‘An Experiment With Live Ammunition’: Both Parties See Their Weakness in This Pennsylvania County

Democrats think they have a winning ground game in Erie County, but they’re concerned about their message. Republicans think they have a winning message, but they’re concerned about their ground game.

Pat Fuller
Pat Fuller has knocked on over 2,500 doors this cycle for Trump and other Republicans across Erie County. Katherine Swartz/NOTUS

ERIE, PA — Republican Pat Fuller was canvassing in perhaps the swingiest suburb of the swingiest county in Pennsylvania when he realized he had a problem.

It wasn’t dogs. After knocking on over 2,500 doors this cycle — more than anyone else in Erie County — Fuller knew how to handle aggressive pets. And it wasn’t police, though he said the cops have been called on him while canvassing three times this year alone.

His problem was technological. Every few houses, the app he was using to canvas kept crashing.