Concerns Arise Over Alleged Fraud in Trump's Ground Game in Arizona and Nevada

 

Donald Trump's campaign may face significant challenges in mobilizing voters in Arizona and Nevada, as leaked data reveals that approximately 25% of door-knocks conducted by America Pac have been flagged as potentially fraudulent. This situation could undermine the campaign's efforts, particularly as polls indicate a tight race with Kamala Harris less than three weeks before the election.

Earlier this year, Trump's campaign outsourced much of its grassroots operations to America Pac, a political action committee founded by Elon Musk. The strategy aimed to engage Trump supporters, particularly those who traditionally do not participate in elections, by investing millions in voter outreach.

However, data obtained by the Guardian indicates that around 24% of door-knocks in Arizona and 25% in Nevada were marked as unusual by the Campaign Sidekick canvassing app. In Arizona alone, 8,511 of the 35,692 doors canvassed were flagged for suspicious activity on a single day. These figures highlight the risks associated with outsourcing voter outreach, where paid canvassers may lack the commitment of volunteers or campaign staff.

America Pac has denied the presence of actual fraud in these states and did not provide specific comments on the allegations. A representative stated that the app was not intended to oversee the auditing of its canvassing efforts, asserting confidence in their data due to the established auditing processes within their canvassing firms.

Despite this, multiple sources familiar with the Campaign Sidekick app indicated that the unusual activity logs effectively identify potential misconduct. Instances included canvassers marked as being at a restaurant rather than canvassing homes, raising questions about the integrity of their reports.

The Trump campaign's decision to delegate its ground operations was a calculated risk, especially as the Federal Election Commission permitted coordination between campaigns and external organizations for voter mobilization. America Pac has emerged as a leading player in this effort, investing over $29.8 million in its field operations.

While America Pac has reported a high volume of door-knocks, the rising number of flagged entries is concerning. Reports show that the percentage of suspicious door-knocks increased from 20.1% to 26.9% in Arizona between October 15 and 17. Nevada saw a similar spike, with flagged entries jumping from 21.2% to 30.1% during the same period.

Typically, canvassers visit homes to engage potential voters and record responses using a smartphone app. The unusual activity reports are automatically generated when a canvasser's recorded location deviates significantly from the target voter’s address.

Despite claims of a robust auditing system, the effectiveness relies on quickly identifying fraudulent activities, which has not always been achieved. One canvasser was terminated after hitting 796 doors over five days, all of which were flagged as suspicious.

The issue with paid canvassing lies in the potential disincentives for vendors to terminate canvassers, especially as the election date approaches and finding replacements becomes increasingly difficult. As the campaign enters the final stretch, these concerns raise serious questions about the efficacy of its voter outreach strategy.