A political action committee funded by billionaire Elon Musk to help former US President Donald Trump’s re-election bid is struggling to meet its door-knocking goals in some battleground states, according to people familiar with the matter. The government is investigating claims that some canvassers lied about the number of voters they contacted, officials said. In a group effort.
Crucial battleground states such as Wisconsin and Nevada are experiencing difficulties as the group America PAC rushes to get voters behind Republican candidates in the final two weeks before the Nov. 5 election. are. Four people involved in the group’s work told Reuters that administrators had warned campaigners that they had missed their target and needed to increase the number of potential voters they contacted.
Alicia McMillan, who campaigned for a PAC in Wisconsin, said local organizers recently told local campaigners that they were not meeting their daily goals and had to reach 450,000 voters by Election Day. He said he told them he didn’t think he would be able to reach his ultimate goal of making contact. In a meeting with a recruiter recorded by McMillan and seen by Reuters, a manager warned about the shortage.
“We’re not going to reach 450,000 people at our current capacity,” the coach said at a meeting on October 8. It’s not clear how many knocks the Wisconsin team has reached so far.
McMillan, who worked for two local contractors hired by America PAC to knock on voters’ doors, said she was speaking out because she feared the shortage could cost the former president his victory. “If this is not considered in a timely manner, it will be a waste of time and money and risks President Trump winning the election,” he told Reuters.
McMillan said she was fired from one contractor after a dispute over wages, but was soon hired by another.
One Arizona recruiting manager said Arizona state leaders are issuing similar warnings. Three other people familiar with the aid effort told Reuters that Chris Young, a longtime Republican operative and close ally of Mr. Musk, recently visited Nevada and was contracted to tally door knocks there. They said they were auditing whether the figures were inflated by some of the workers employed by the companies. Another person briefed on the matter said America PAC is having trouble finding enough staff to conduct audits in other states.
A person close to America PAC’s operations said McMillan’s description of Wisconsin’s shortfall was inaccurate and that the group would meet its goals. The official added that senior operatives regularly visit field offices to check on performance.
Young did not respond to requests for comment.
America PAC’s continued outreach efforts include door-to-door canvassing to persuade “low-propensity voters,” voters who might support Trump but stay home instead of voting, to vote. It is built around. The study focused on battleground states where small differences in turnout could decide victory for Trump or Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in an election that polls continue to predict will be a close one. I’m guessing.
Mr. Musk, who is ranked by Forbes magazine as the richest person in the world, has so far been at least $75 million Federal disclosures show the group has been feeding the America PAC, making it a key part of President Trump’s efforts to retake the White House. The entrepreneurs behind automaker Tesla and rocket and satellite venture SpaceX are Support for the Republican cause is growing. This year, the tycoon became an outspoken supporter of Mr. Trump, who said if elected he would appoint Mr. Musk to head the Government Efficiency Commission.
Mr. Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
A Trump campaign spokesperson declined to comment.
Despite the influx of money, some of the U.S. PAC’s activities have been plagued by turmoil, people familiar with the effort told Reuters. Like many election campaigns, the group hires contractors to conduct grassroots efforts, relying on hourly workers to knock on doors and speak directly to potential voters.
Some of these workers may find it difficult to maintain employment. Three recruiters, who requested anonymity, told Reuters the work was not worth the pay, with some contractors paying as low as $20 an hour. In some cases, recruiters drive long distances in remote areas and are not reimbursed for gas, they added.
In Nevada, it is unclear whether Mr. Young’s audit has been completed, reached any findings, or prompted any changes in the scope of PAC America’s activities. Managers at Nevada contractor Lone Mountain Strategies must fire a recruiter who used a smartphone app to falsify his location and give false door-knocking numbers, according to text messages reviewed by Reuters. I can see that he is panicking because he had to do something.
One message read: “Our audits continue to catch people cheating.” “Today we laid off two people and our auditors are going door-to-door checking for flyers.”
Lone Mountain Strategies did not respond to emails or phone calls seeking comment.
America PAC recently updated its website to prominently display advertisements seeking recruits. “Salaries start at $30 an hour, with bonuses based on performance,” the site says.
