With TikToks, memes and Musk comments, Argentina election battle goes viral

Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei for La Libertad Avanza party and his sister Karina Milei gesture during a campaign rally in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 12, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - In a high-rise office in downtown Buenos Aires, a loose band of twenty-something influencers gather to plan how to propel Javier Milei to the Argentine presidency with TikTok videos, memes - and some help from Elon Musk.

The group, who take the occasional break from filming and strategizing to hoverboard ride around the office, say they are unpaid volunteers who believe in Milei's libertarian ideas and "chainsaw" plan for the country's hard-hit economy. They are helping drive an online battle for votes that has contributed to making Milei the front-runner ahead of the Oct. 22 election.