“Caitlyn Jenner launched her gubernatorial campaign a week ago with a media splash that teased the audacious promise of shaking up state politics – and delivering big trouble to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Since then, it’s been crickets. The reality TV star and transgender activist hasn’t made a single TV appearance. She hasn’t held a press conference or social media event. No rollout of key Republican endorsements. She doesn’t have an issues page on her website, but offers ways to ‘donate’ and buy ‘Caitlyn for California’ merchandise” Politico reports.
“‘If she doesn’t come out and say something within the next several days, I think everyone moves on and says this is just some type of crank candidacy,’ said veteran GOP consultant Rob Stutzman, who was a principal adviser to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during his successful 2003 recall bid. Jenner is ‘an outsider now auditioning to run the largest state government in the country,’ Stutzman added. ‘You’ve got to give a speech, sit for interviews – and convince people that you can do it.’ So far, Jenner has focused most of her efforts nationally rather than in California. She launched her bid while most California residents were still asleep, first confirming her run with Axios rather than a local media outlet. Fox News announced Thursday that Jenner will sit down with Sean Hannity for an interview that will air May 5 – nearly two weeks after she declared ‘I’m in’ on the recall election. The news made an initial splash beyond the state, yet was greeted with more of a shrug in California, especially among the political establishment.”