Republican activists in key swing states have expressed concerns about the absence of the teams responsible for door-knocking and mobilizing infrequent voters on behalf of Donald Trump. The reliance on external groups for crucial campaign operations has raised eyebrows among party members. Trump and the Republican National Committee have decided to collaborate with organizations like America PAC, funded by billionaire Elon Musk, to handle get-out-the-vote efforts in critical battleground states.
Despite the upcoming election in less than 50 days, reports from various Republican officials and activists in Michigan, North Carolina, and other battleground states suggest limited visibility of the canvassing teams. Some concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the operation, given the importance of turning out supporters for Trump in a tight race against Vice President Kamala Harris. The reliance on reaching potential voters who did not participate in the previous elections is viewed as crucial for Trump’s strategy.
In Michigan, where Trump lost by a small margin in 2020, the work of America PAC canvassers has been reportedly spotted in certain areas. While the group claims to have a presence in several competitive states, reports of their activities have been scarce across the mentioned battleground states. The Trump campaign relies on a network of volunteer captains and paid canvassers, with America PAC contributing significantly, to reach out to potential supporters.
Groups like Turning Point USA and the Faith and Freedom Coalition are also involved in reaching out to less-frequent voters on behalf of Trump. The decision to share campaign responsibilities with outside groups was partly influenced by an FEC ruling allowing coordination between campaigns and super PACs for canvassing efforts. Despite some complications facing America PAC, the collaboration with outside groups is part of the broader strategy to leverage additional resources and outreach capabilities.
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is leading ground outreach efforts with a significant number of campaign-paid staff in various locations. The focus of outside groups supporting Harris mainly lies in advertising, with substantial spending expected to surpass that of Trump’s campaign and affiliated super PACs by Election Day. Trump’s delegation of campaign functions to external groups is not unprecedented, with past instances demonstrating mixed outcomes for candidates who have pursued similar strategies.
