As we approach the crunch time leading up to the November 5th elections, things are heating up in the political arena. While many are focusing on Donald Trump being on the ballot, it seems another influential figure is catching the attention of politicians and the public alike. Billionaire investor Mark Cuban says that Kamala Harris may have to ward off a different rich, white man – none other than Elon Musk.
“Really it comes down to ‘get out the vote,’” said Cuban in a recent conversation on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “And the crazy thing is, it’s the Harris campaign versus Elon—not even versus Trump,” added the Shark Tank judge, who has been actively campaigning for Harris.
While both the Republican and Democratic parties gear up for what is being called one of the closest elections in the nation’s history, Musk’s role in the election is becoming increasingly prominent. According to Cuban, “Elon is running the ground game for the Republicans. And that is really what the race is all about the last two weeks.”
Musk, known for his ventures into space exploration, social media, and electric vehicles, has now seemingly turned his attention to American politics. He has been revealed as the sole donor to a super PAC named America PAC, which contributed a whopping $74 million to Trump’s campaign between July and September, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Musk’s Latest Move
Recently, Musk announced that he would be donating $1 million every day until the election to those living in a swing state who sign his online petition in support of the First and Second Amendments. Using a marketing strategy, Musk tweeted that for a short period, registered voters in Pennsylvania who sign or refer someone to the petition will also receive $100. Musk’s strategy has already led to $1 million checks being handed out to two attendees at rallies hosted by his PC, according to Reuters. However, the legality of this scheme is being questioned.
Commenting on Musk’s strategy, Cuban called it both “innovative” and “desperate,” noting on CNBC, “that you only do that because you think you have to.” While he didn’t give his full endorsement of the venture and noted it could backfire, Cuban said a sweepstakes itself is “not a bad idea.”
The Ultra-Wealthy and Politics
- Harris broke fundraising records, raising $1 billion in just three months before the end of September, according to The New York Times.
- Despite Musk’s outsize involvement, Harris has a greater number of billionaires publicly supporting her than Trump: 79 compared to 50, according to Forbes.
- Speaking against the potential of Harris taxing unrealized capital gains, Cuban asserted that was “not going to happen.” He also stated that if she went back on her word, he would campaign against her, ensuring she wouldn’t have a second term.
In conclusion, it seems that the wealthy are significantly influencing the current political landscape. As Cuban puts it, “That was the regular season, this is the playoffs. You gotta play like you’re one point behind, so that’s what we’re doing.”
