As the 2024 presidential election heats up, Republicans in key battleground states are raising alarms over the state of Donald Trump’s ground game, worried that his campaign’s lack of presence could hurt him in a tight race. In interviews, several GOP strategists and operatives voiced concerns about a weak get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort and an untested reliance on outside groups to boost field operations.
Concerns Over Trump’s Campaign Strategy
“The question in my mind is, are they all singing from the same sheet of music, and is there that strong, extensive, well-funded machine at the top of the ticket?” said Stephen Lawson, a GOP operative from Georgia, ahead of early voting. Others echoed this sentiment, describing a lack of enthusiasm and presence compared to previous election cycles.
A Michigan-based GOP strategist bluntly stated, “They are out-matching us in money, in enthusiasm, and in the ground game.”
Trump’s Volunteer Army and Outside Group Strategy
The Trump campaign has not been idle. It’s rolled out a massive volunteer operation dubbed Trump Force 47, boasting 30,000 trained area captains and “hundreds of thousands” of volunteers, according to a campaign official. The campaign also plans to knock on 15 million doors across battleground states, working closely with outside conservative groups like Elon Musk’s America PAC, Turnout for America, and Turning Point Action.
However, some Republican operatives on the ground aren’t seeing the same levels of activity they remember from Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. “It’s almost like a timeshare scheme,” said one GOP operative, describing how volunteers are given campaign swag but are not consistently deployed for canvassing efforts.
Competing with the Harris Campaign
On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris is heavily investing in her ground game. Since replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, her campaign has focused on ramping up its grassroots efforts. In the first five days, the Harris campaign attracted over 170,000 new volunteers and organized more than 2,300 events in battleground states.
The Harris campaign has 238 offices and 1,750 staff in key states, far outpacing Trump’s team. Record-breaking fundraising, including $310 million in July, has allowed Harris to continue expanding her presence, adding 418 staff and opening 30 new offices in just one month.
Outside Groups Boosting Trump’s GOTV Efforts
Conservative groups, such as Turning Point Action, are also stepping up. The group, which focuses on low-propensity voters who lean conservative but didn’t vote in past elections, has 200 full-time staff in Arizona and Wisconsin, and covers volunteer expenses for those relocating to help with door-knocking efforts.
Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition is another key player in Trump’s GOTV strategy. It plans to mobilize 10,000 people to knock on doors and make phone calls, with significant efforts focused on states like Pennsylvania and Georgia.
Criticism of Focus on Low-Propensity Voters
Despite the work being done by Trump’s team and affiliated groups, some political operatives question whether focusing on low-propensity voters is a sound strategy. “I just don’t think there’s a lot of juice in those oranges,” said Chuck Coughlin, a political consultant in Arizona. He expressed skepticism that targeting these voters would yield the turnout Trump needs in such a competitive election.
In Nevada, frustrations are particularly high. While GOP Governor Joe Lombardo is investing in down-ballot races, local Republicans say there is little coordination with Trump’s campaign efforts, which they describe as disorganized.
COMMENTS