The media knows and understands that many of the Republican presidential candidates know very well that they do not have the slightest chance of becoming the nominee. It doesn’t matter. Most of them are businessmen and investors and owners and they understand the important thing in life is to make money. And the real money is in the books and the speeches. And the books and speeches sell for more if they come with this appendage on the cover: “presidential candidate and [whatever]”. I’m not sure they even say “former”.
Just look at all the free advertising they all get. Millions and millions of dollars worth of free advertising. The dumber the comments, or the more controversial, the more free advertising, and the more copies your book is going to sell and the more money you get from giving after-dinner speeches all over America. You get your picture taken with the organizers of these festive occasions, shake their hands, give them something to talk about at the office the next day. The dumber the comments the better, because then you can accuse the “establishment” and the “east coast media” and “east coast intellectuals” of all being against you. They are against you because you are right and they are wrong. The bible says so. And your audience in join you in insisting that they are just as smart as those educated, East Coast elitests. Because you read this book.