Why exactly is Caitlyn Jenner running for governor? ‘Rampant narcissism’, says key strategist
Jenner supported Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign (Kevin Winter/Getty and Ron Sachs – Pool/Getty)
As Caitlyn Jenner’s unpopular political campaign continues to bewilder longtime political experts, one key strategist has attributed it to “rampant narcissism”.
The former Olympian and reality TV star seems determined to forge a political career despite an utter absence of electoral experience or cohesive policy platform.
The incongruity of a transgender woman running on a Republican platform is reflected in her shockingly low polling figures, and her rambling, contradictory TV interviews have won few voters to her cause.
As she continues to reel out Republican dogwhistles while making vacuous claims about being a “role model”, political experts have attempted to speculate what, exactly, her campaign is all about.
“A celebrity fling,” suggested California Democratic strategist Garry South, speaking to Politico. “Rampant narcissism,” said fellow Democratic operative Katie Merrill.
“This isn’t a real campaign,” said GOP consultant Mike Madrid.
According to the outlet, they largely deem her candidacy a cross between a cash-grab scheme and a publicity stunt – one that’s heavily influenced by the success of Donald Trump.
“This wouldn’t be happening if Donald Trump hadn’t become president,” Sacramento-based Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio argued.
“It is as though she’s following a treasure map, the Donald Trump treasure map,” agreed University of Southern California political scientist Sherry Bebitch Jeffe.
Madrid suggested Jenner’s tactic is simply: “Promote, promote, promote, monetise, monetise, monetise.”
But despite all evidence to the contrary, Caitlyn Jenner’s team insist she’s running a genuine campaign.
“She’s doing this because she truly believes in what she’s doing,” Sophia Hutchins, Jenner’s business manager, told Politico.
“I would say [Caitlyn] Jenner milked a performance longer than any other athlete ever has. You have a 1976 Olympian, still working, still giving motivational speeches, at extraordinarily high fees, still relevant in television and the media.
“What happened to all these athletes, or these celebrities, that kind of just washed out, burned out? It’s a business. It is a machine that you have to build and maintain and take care of in order to stay relevant and keep working.
“But running for governor is not a part of that,” Hutchins added. “Running for governor is a totally different thing.”
