Republican activists in swing states have expressed concerns about the lack of visibility of the teams responsible for door-to-door canvassing and voter turnout efforts on behalf of Donald Trump. The Republican National Committee, under Trump's control, has chosen to share these crucial campaign responsibilities with outside groups like America PAC, which is backed by billionaire Elon Musk.
With less than 50 days until the election, reports from Michigan, North Carolina, and other battleground states indicate that many Republican officials and activists have not observed America PAC's canvassers in action. In some instances, the PAC has only recently replaced its door-knocking company in states like Arizona and Nevada.
While Trump's campaign aims to target infrequent voters who could sway the election, the effectiveness of the shared operation with outside groups is being questioned by some party activists. The campaign believes it holds an advantage among voters who did not participate in the 2016 and 2020 elections, making the outreach efforts even more critical.
In Michigan, where Trump lost by a narrow margin in 2020, the presence of America PAC canvassers has been confirmed by some party officials. However, reports of their activities in other battleground states have been scarce.
Trump's campaign claims to have around 30,000 volunteer captains identifying less likely voters at the local level, in addition to approximately 2,500 paid canvassers, including those from America PAC, operating in the seven key states. The PAC has allocated over $14 million for canvassing work since mid-August.
The decision to collaborate with outside groups for canvassing efforts was influenced by an FEC ruling allowing campaigns to coordinate with super PACs on voter outreach. This coordination enables campaigns to share resources and costs with groups that can receive unlimited donations.
On the other side, Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign is primarily focused on ground outreach led by campaign-paid staff and affiliated labor organizations, with a significant emphasis on advertising.
Recent developments have seen America PAC terminating its contract with a canvassing company in Nevada, adding a layer of complexity to Trump's campaign strategy. While delegating campaign duties to outside groups is not uncommon, past experiences have shown challenges in maintaining smooth operations.
Overall, the dynamics of campaign operations and outreach efforts in the lead-up to the election reflect the evolving strategies and challenges faced by both the Trump and Harris campaigns.
