Why am I thinking Operation Mincemeat??
Possibly, but in this case I think the Dem’s high-tech methods for controlling “independent” campaign groups just got away from them. More info on the groups they were operating and whether coordination with them was illegal would be interesting (such as, were “non-profits” and news organizations involved in party politics? - shocking).
In my experience, these political strategies can be laughable junk, so I look forward to reading the source material later. While pitching paper into the recycling bin a couple of years ago, something caught my eye — the complete campaign strategy of the local Dem candidate for the state legislature. Buried in BS was exactly what her public campaign consisted of: promises to create “good jobs” (with no explanation of how this magic would occur). It was so pitiful — I assume that somewhere it recomended scattering it by the dumpster as a cheap form of advertising.