Sounds a whole lot like the leftists to me today.
Nazis also lied about their numbers and support leading up to elections. One trick was to start ‘membership’ numbers at “500”. That way the first person who signed up was “501” and felt like he was a member of a large group.
Same trick those pollsters who are corrupt use... they tell the people that ‘we’re all here together - the ‘in crowd’ and you are out there alone.
Totalitarians use the same tactics... they alter their choice of victim.