Musk-backed PAC hits bumps in key states before election

America PAC‚ a political action committee bankrolled by Elon Musk to support Donald Trumps re-election bid‚ is hitting roadblocks in crucial swing states. With the election looming on 11/5/24‚ the group is scrambling to meet its voter outreach targets in places like Wisconsin and Nevada

Alysia McMillan‚ a former canvasser in Wisconsin‚ revealed that field organizers recently alerted campaigners about missing daily objectives. They were on track to fall short of their ultimate goal: contacting 450‚000 voters by Election Day. In a recorded meeting on 10/8/24 (roughly two weeks ago) a manager stated‚ “Weʼre not going to hit 450‚000 not with what weve got now“

The PACʼs strategy centers on door-to-door efforts to persuade “low propensity voters“ – those who might support Trump but mightnt vote – to cast their ballots. This work is vital in battleground states‚ where small differences in turnout could determine the victor between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris

Musk‚ whos considered the worlds wealthiest individual by Forbes‚ has poured at least $75 million into America PAC. This makes the group a key player in Trumps attempt to reclaim the White House. The tech mogul has become an outspoken Trump supporter this year‚ and Trump has mentioned hed appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if elected

Despite the influx of cash‚ America PACʼs outreach has faced challenges. The group relies on contractors who hire hourly workers for grass-roots efforts. Some canvassers have been hard to retain‚ citing low pay (starting at $20 per hour with some contractors) and lack of gas reimbursement for long drives in remote areas

• In Nevada‚ Chris Young‚ a Musk aide and longtime Republican operative‚ recently traveled to audit doorknocking tallies
• Managers at one Nevada contractor‚ Lone Mountain Strategies‚ had to fire canvassers who used smartphone apps to fake their locations and inflate their numbers
• America PAC has updated its website‚ prominently displaying ads for canvassers with pay starting at $30 per hour and performance bonuses

As the clock ticks down to Election Day‚ America PAC faces a race against time to overcome these obstacles and mobilize voters in key battleground states