Pro-Donald Trump group funded by Elon Musk struggles in swing states

October 19, 2024
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Pro-Donald Trump group funded by Elon Musk struggles in swing states

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Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and owner of X, has funded a political action committee (PAC) to support former U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election bid.

However, the group is reportedly struggling to meet its outreach goals in key swing states and is investigating allegations that some canvassers may have inflated their voter contact numbers, according to sources involved in the initiative, as reported by Reuters.

In crucial battleground states such as Wisconsin and Nevada, America PAC is racing against time to mobilize support for Trump just weeks ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Four individuals associated with the group's outreach efforts informed Reuters that management has noted significant shortfalls in canvasser performance and urged a boost in voter engagements.

Alysia McMillan, a canvasser in Wisconsin, revealed that field organizers recently indicated they were not meeting daily goals and were likely to fall short of their target of contacting 450,000 voters by Election Day. During a meeting with canvassers, recorded by McMillan and reviewed by Reuters, a manager expressed concern over their progress: "We're not going to hit 450,000, not with what we've got now," was stated during the October 8 discussion.

McMillan shared her worries about the potential implications of this shortfall, emphasizing that a lack of timely action could hamper Trump's chances of winning.

"If this isn’t looked into properly, it can result in a waste of time and money and jeopardize President Trump’s election victory," she told Reuters.

Although McMillan was let go by one contractor after a payment dispute, she quickly found work with another.

In Arizona, another canvassing manager noted similar concerns, and three others familiar with the outreach efforts mentioned that Chris Young, a Musk aide and Republican strategist, had traveled to Nevada to investigate claims of inflated doorknocking numbers from some contract workers.

Additionally, a source familiar with America PAC’s operations indicated that the organization is facing challenges in recruiting adequate personnel to conduct audits in various states.

Contradicting McMillan’s claims about the Wisconsin shortfall, a source close to America PAC asserted that the organization is on track to meet its objectives, highlighting that senior staff frequently visit field offices to monitor performance.

America PAC's outreach strategy emphasizes door-to-door campaigning to engage "low propensity voters" — individuals who may lean toward Trump but might refrain from voting.

This initiative is especially critical in battleground states, where even minor differences in voter turnout could sway the election in favor of Trump or his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Recent polls suggest that the race remains extremely tight.

Musk, listed by Forbes as the world's richest individual, has reportedly contributed at least $75 million to America PAC, making it an integral component of Trump’s campaign to regain the presidency. The tech mogul has increasingly aligned himself with Republican initiatives and has openly endorsed Trump, suggesting that, if re-elected, he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.

Despite the financial backing, America PAC's outreach has faced challenges, as sources familiar with its operations conveyed to Reuters. Like many political campaigns, the group has utilized contractors to execute grassroots efforts, relying on hourly workers to directly engage with potential voters.

However, some canvassers have found the compensation insufficient.

Three anonymous canvassers told Reuters that the starting pay from some contractors is as low as $20 per hour, which they feel does not justify the effort, especially when they must travel extensive distances in remote areas without reimbursement for gas.

In Nevada, it remains unclear if Young’s audit has yielded any conclusions or led to adjustments in America PAC’s outreach strategies.

Text messages reviewed by Reuters indicated that managers at one of their local contractors, Lone Mountain Strategies, expressed concern over having to dismiss canvassers who misused smartphone apps to disguise their locations and falsify their door-knocking efforts.

"Our auditors keep catching people cheating," one message stated. "We’ve fired two people today, and auditors are checking doors for flyers."

Lone Mountain Strategies did not respond to inquiries seeking comment.

In response to these challenges, America PAC has updated its website to actively recruit canvassers, with a pay proposition starting at $30 per hour, alongside performance bonuses.

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