Despite going on a major media blitz, Caitlyn Jenner’s bid to become the next governor of California is off to a slow start — with just 6 percent support in a new poll.
The high-profile former Olympian and reality TV star got “anemic support” in the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll that was co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, the paper said.
“Even among Republicans, only 13 percent say they’d be inclined to vote for her,” said Mark DiCamillo, director of the poll. “It’s a very poor showing.”
The single-digit support was especially surprising given that Jenner, 71, has been given so much press coverage for her run, including TV interviews on Fox News and CNN.
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and businessman John Cox are leading the Republican field in the poll, but with each getting backing from just 22 percent of those polled, the paper said.
But “there doesn’t seem to be a significant constituency for her candidacy,” DiCamillo told the LA Times.
Instead, slightly more than half — 52 percent — said they approved of current Gov. Gavin Newsom despite efforts to recall him, the poll showed.
That support was down on previous polls, which appeared to reflect earlier criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, DiCamillo said.
But “now that we’re emerging out of that, voters are giving the governor generally better marks on the pandemic,” the pollster told the LA Times.