Axios has caught Democratic operatives making deceptive local news websites that appear innocent but are actually pushing Democrat propaganda. 

This appears to be a strategy that Democrats have designed in order to try to help their candidates get across the line in key swing state races in the midterm elections.

Axios has discovered "at least 51" of these websites. They have been found in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The websites, according to Axios, appear to be "independent local news." And, to help hide what they are actually up to, they are given such innocuous-sounding names as the "Milwaukee Metro Times" or "Tri-City Record."

But, the reality is that the websites are anything but innocuous.

Axios reports:

Each follows a similar template: aggregated local news content and short write-ups about local sports teams and attractions — interspersed with heavily slanted political news aimed at boosting Democratic midterm candidates and attacking Republican opponents.

As for who is behind the websites, the websites themselves claim to be part of a relatively new group called Local Report Inc. But, Axios has also found that the websites are connected to the American Independent.

The American Independent refers to itself as the "No. 1 digital platform for progressive news." It was founded by David Brock, the well-known Democratic operative who founded the left-wing outlet Media Matters.

The effort is clearly an attempt by the Democrats to get a leg up this election season. The way it is being secretly carried out raises the question of what else the Democrats are doing to get an advantage.