Republican strategist Scott Presler of Early Vote Action is sometimes called the “Pied Piper of early voting and voter registration.” In a recent interview with Megyn Kelly, he laid out his strategy to get enough registered GOP voters to give Donald Trump the edge in Pennsylvania.
Presler’s strategy hinges on grassroots voter mobilization, focusing on key demographic groups including truckers, Amish residents, hunters, and veterans.
“All of our time, talent, and energy is going just to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Presler told Kelly.
Presler emphasized the organization’s commitment to building a robust ground game.
“We have a state director and 50 paid field staff on the ground all across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties,” he said. “And I want to dispel any myths right here and now that there is no ground game. I’m a data guy, so let’s go over the numbers for a second.”
Presler highlighted the narrowing gap in voter registration between Democrats and Republicans over the last few election cycles.
“In 2016, the Democrats had an advantage of nearly 1 million more (voters) than ours,” he said. “Donald Trump won Pennsylvania by 40,000 votes. Fast forward to 2020. That data showed our advantage was narrowed down to 650,000, and Pennsylvania was ultimately decided by a very narrow 80,000 votes.”
“Now, where are we today? That advantage has been narrowed down to 333,000. If you take out inactive voters, that number is just 160,000. So Pennsylvania is very much in play.”
Presler expressed confidence in the Republican position, pointing to significant declines in Democratic voter registration and mail-in ballot requests.
“The Democrats are down at 416,000 mail-in ballot requests from where they were four years ago at this same time,” he said. “So, again, 2020 was decided by 80,000. They’re down 300,000 voter registrations and they’re down 466,000 mail-in ballot requests. Republicans, in my humble objective opinion, are in the best place possible to actually win Pennsylvania and therefore the presidency this November.”
He detailed specific outreach efforts targeting truckers.
“There are 80,000 truckers in Pennsylvania alone,” Presler said. “If we mobilize that group, we win. Truckers are busy serving us, the American people. They’re driving rigs on Election Day. I spoke with a wife whose husband, a Pennsylvania truck driver, did not vote in 2020 because he was working. We are pushing them to get a mail-in ballot and to vote early to ensure they lock in those votes.”
Presler discussed the campaign’s activities in the Amish community.
“There are 90,000 Amish in Pennsylvania, and I know in the 2020 election, only 2,000 Amish voted,” he said. “We are meeting the Amish where they are—setting up voter registration tables at key locations like Roots Country Market [in Manheim, Pa.] and The Green Dragon Farmer’s Market [in Ephrata, Pa.]. We’re emphasizing that the Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro is waging a war on their values, including school choice and religious freedom.”
He also laid out a clear focus on veterans.
“We have 800,000 veterans in Pennsylvania,” Presler said. “After the recent vice presidential debates, veterans do not take kindly to stolen valor or the Biden administration’s mishandling of Afghanistan. We are going to VFW halls and American Legion events to connect with these voters.”
Presler’s strategy also extends to Pennsylvania’s hunters, where he identified another significant voter pool.
“Thirty percent of Pennsylvania hunters are not registered to vote—over 300,000 hunters,” he said. “We have been visiting every gun show, gun store, and archery range, and we’re even advertising in newspapers to connect with this crucial group.”
The courting of hunters comes after the Biden administration blocked federal funding for youth hunting and archery programs through the Department of Education, a decision criticized as an attack on the Second Amendment and lawful gun ownership.
Critics assert that decision reflects a broader agenda to diminish hunting rights.
In his group’s approach, Presler emphasized the importance of data-driven community organizing. He said the strategy his organization is using to turn out those voters mirrors that undertaken by former President Barack Obama in 2008.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re using a model similar to President Obama’s community organizing strategy,” he said. “When we register someone to vote, we collect essential information to follow up and ensure they actually vote.”
As Nov. 5 approaches, Presler stressed the urgency of mobilizing support.
“This election is Trump’s to lose,” he said. “I think numbers matter. The fact that Republicans registered 12,500 new voters in the last week while Democrats only registered 7,600 is a clear indicator of momentum.”
He included a call to action for his supporters, urging them to focus on turning out votes.
“The only thing that matters is ballots into boxes,” Presler said. “The last date to register voters is on Oct. 21. We need to use every single day to court voters and lock in those votes on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.”
Presler discussed the plan at President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa. on Oct. 5, featuring his return to the community where a would-be assassin shot the former president in the ear and killed audience member Corey Comperatore on July 13.
Presler emphasized the importance of grassroots voter mobilization.
“Pennsylvania, you have the power to change the world. Pennsylvania wins the White House,” Presler said.
He stressed the critical role that voter turnout would play, urging attendees to check their registration status and engage actively in the electoral process.
“Please, I ask you today, check your voter status. Make sure you’re an active voter registered at your current address,” he said.
At the Butler rally, Presler also courted union workers, a demographic he believes holds significant sway in the state, and college students.
“To our union workers, we want your vote. We want to keep jobs here in America,” he said.
Turning his attention to college students, he urged them to make their voices heard.
“To our sorority sisters and our fraternity brothers, you have the power,” Presler said. “If you’re going to school here in Pennsylvania, register to vote legally and lawfully here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Presler urged the audience to get out the vote.
“I feel this from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, I love our great country,” he said. “President Trump took a bullet for us. Please use your ballot and have his back on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and deliver Pennsylvania for Donald J. Trump.”
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