Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trump outsourced door-knocking campaigns in two key states to Musk-backed PAC. Up to 25 percent may have never happened

Trump’s campaign outsourced the bulk of its ground effort to PACs this cycle, according to the new report

Katie Hawkinson
Sunday 20 October 2024 00:25
Comments
Related: Elon Musk funnels $75 million into helping Trump win

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Door-knocking data from the Elon Musk-backed America PAC in two key swing states could be fraudulent, a new report reveals.

About 24% of door-knocks in Arizona and 25% of door-knocks in Nevada over the last week by the PAC were flagged under “unusual survey logs” on the Campaign Sidekick canvassing app, which could potentially mean they are fraudulent, The Guardian reports.

Trump is leading Harris by just 2 points in Arizona, while the vice president is ahead one point in Nevada, according to the latest Emerson College poll.

These potentially fraudulent numbers raise concerns about the campaign’s decision to outsource the bulk of its canvassing to PACs, The Guardian reports. The Federal Election Commission allowed campaigns to outsource these efforts to PACs for the first time earlier this year.

Elon Musk campaigns with Donald Trump. Some of the canvassing reported by Musk’s America PAC could be fraudulent in Arizona and Nevada, a new report reveals
Elon Musk campaigns with Donald Trump. Some of the canvassing reported by Musk’s America PAC could be fraudulent in Arizona and Nevada, a new report reveals (AFP via Getty Images)

The America PAC pays $30 per hour for employees who are interested in “working on increasing voter registration and voter turnout,” according to its website. The PAC also pays $47 for registered voter referrals, as long as that voter goes on to sign a “petition pledging support for the First and Second Amendments.”

Musk, founder of the America PAC, is a vocal Trump supporter. The PAC has reportedly spent more than $60 million on the 2024 election cycle, mostly in support of the former president. Musk contributed $75 million to the PAC from July through September.

Musk even attended Trump’s second Butler, Pennsylvania rally earlier this month. The event took place at the same venue as Trump’s first assissination attempt in July.

While there, Trump identified Musk as the person who “saved free speech” and a “rocket builder.” Musk approached Trump in a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap and an “Occupy Mars” T-shirt, admitting he was “dark MAGA,” a nod to the far-right meme.

Trump has frequently praised Musk on the campaign trail and has even claimed he’d tap Musk to run a government task force to drastically cut spending.

The Independent has contacted Trump’s campaign and the America PAC for comment.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in