(CLO) The $175 million campaign of the super PAC led by billionaire Elon Musk contributed greatly to Donald Trump's election victory in battleground states.
America PAC's Important Contribution
At a post-election meeting on Tuesday night, billionaire Elon Musk sat two seats away from Donald Trump, ready to take huge credit for Trump's decisive victory in the presidential election.
“My America PAC has significantly improved the Republican Party’s performance in battleground states,” Musk told conservative commentator Tucker Carlson during an interview at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private Florida club and residence. Musk also posted a meme of himself in the Oval Office to his 203 million followers on X, his social media platform.
Billionaire Elon Musk's campaign is said to have contributed greatly to Donald Trump's victory in battleground states. Photo: New York Post
Mr Trump’s victory was the culmination of an effort that began just six months ago and hinged on a risky gamble: Elon Musk’s new super PAC effectively led Mr Trump’s get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states — and Mr Trump entrusted a crucial campaign to a political novice.
Mr. Musk has almost single-handedly funded an effort that has cost America PAC more than $175 million. His campaigners have knocked on nearly 11 million doors in battleground states since August, including about 1.8 million in Michigan and 2.3 million in Pennsylvania, according to the New York Times.
Another $30 million was spent on a major direct mail program and about $22 million on digital advertising, including on Trump-friendly media outlets like Barstool Sports.
When Mr Musk first met with political advisers in the spring, he focused on attracting 800,000 to a million “low-propensity” voters in seven battleground states — people who, especially in rural areas, might be inclined to vote for Mr Trump but have uneven voting records.
America PAC’s apparent success could inspire similar efforts that could transform modern campaigns. New guidance from the Federal Election Commission, issued in March, now allows presidential campaigns to closely coordinate their field operations with super PACs.
Elon Musk-like tactics
In leading America PAC, billionaire Elon Musk has relied heavily on time-tested campaign tactics. For example, the tech mogul has emphasized that he provided a “fleet of cars” to voters who voted for former President Donald Trump, including the Amish community in Pennsylvania, who don’t drive cars.
Elon Musk has also made early and absentee voting a priority, despite his past derision. After Musk’s senior leadership team stepped in themselves in late August, they tweaked the campaign’s script to focus not only on identifying Trump supporters but also on encouraging absentee voting and providing QR codes to request mail-in ballots.
Mr. Musk also appointed a state director for each battleground state, who was tasked with recruiting companies to go door-to-door and find voters who might not normally vote for Mr. Trump.
With ample resources, Mr Musk's super PAC also pushed a phone call program in the final days to push even "average" voters to vote for Mr Trump.
Elon Musk, in his usual shocking fashion, has also pushed the envelope. The tech mogul has offered up to $1 million to lucky Trump voters every day. The tactic, which has survived a legal challenge from the Philadelphia district attorney, has garnered a lot of attention.
On X, the billionaire's account, the most followed on the platform, comments have become a "loudspeaker" for Trump.
Billionaire Elon Musk awards $1 million to the luckiest voters. Photo: GI
“A star is born – Elon!” Mr Trump said in his victory speech, before recounting a number of stories about Elon Musk’s business achievements.
Elon Musk’s campaign efforts for Donald Trump also paid off immediately. Fueled by predictions of favorable policies for Trump in his second term, shares of Tesla and other tech companies owned by billionaire Elon Musk immediately rose just one day after the election, helping the world’s richest businessman gain an additional $4.8 billion.
And as the plane landed near Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night, billionaire Elon Musk said on an X livestream that he had no plans to limit his political ambitions and that his super PAC would have a “huge impact” on judicial races and the 2026 midterm elections. “America PAC will continue to operate after this election,” the billionaire stressed.
Nguyen Khanh
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chien-thang-cua-ong-donald-trump-co-dong-gop-sieu-lon-tu-ty-phu-elon-musk-post320409.html
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