Tech billionaire Elon Musk began campaigning across Pennsylvania on Thursday in support of former President Trump, emphasizing the importance of the battleground state in the rapidly approaching election.
“I can't stress enough that Pennsylvania is the linchpin of this election,” Musk said at a town hall in Folsom, Pennsylvania. “I think this election will decide the fate of America. The fate of America, along with the fate of Western civilization.”
The CEOs of Tesla and SpaceX have expressed support for Trump, holding “probably half a dozen” events across the Keystone State in the final weeks before the election to boost the former president. He said he plans to do so.
At Thursday's town hall, Musk highlighted the state's upcoming voter registration deadline, urging attendees to register and encouraging family and friends to register by Monday as well.
“Basically the next three days are essential,” Musk said. “We believe this election will be decided by 10,000, 1,000, 10 votes in Pennsylvania. That may be a very small number, so every single increase makes a big difference.”
“I have never been politically active,” he added. “I am politically active now because I believe that the future of America, the future of civilization, is at stake.”
According to the pro-Trump super PAC's website, Musk is planning upcoming events in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
The event is being supported by America PAC, which the billionaire founded earlier this year. Newly filed campaign finance records show that Musk, the richest man on the planet, personally donated $75 million to a super PAC.
PACs have played a key role in the Trump campaign's get-out-the-vote efforts in battleground states, sometimes taking unconventional approaches to reaching voters.
In recent weeks, America PAC has encouraged its supporters to sign petitions in support of the First and Second Amendments in a bid to identify potential voters for President Trump in swing states. It offers $47 per voter in battleground states. Those in attendance at Thursday's town hall were also asked to sign the petition.
Pennsylvania is one of several states likely to be key in deciding next month's election. Mr. Trump and Vice President Harris are currently in a very close race, with the vice president leading by just 2.7 percentage points nationally and less than 1 percentage point in the state, according to Hill/Decision Desk polling averages.
A poll released Thursday by the University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Public Opinion and YouGov shows Ms. Harris leading Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania by just one point.
