How Andrew Yang Went From Front-Runner to Fourth Place – The New York Times

For months, Andrew Yang seemed like he was exactly what New York City was looking for in a mayor.

He was relentlessly positive at a time when the city, still locked down during the pandemic, was somber. While other candidates were stuck in a loop of online mayoral forums, he seized attention by holding in-person events, capitalizing on his star power as a 2020 presidential candidate.

He leapt to the top of polls, drawing the affection of wealthy donors and envy from the race s more established candidates. But as the race s sudden front-runner, Mr. Yang began to draw more scrutiny from the news media and his rivals, and bit by bit, he lost ground.

Eric Adams was the first to pass him, and others would follow. By primary night, Mr. Yang was the first candidate to concede, far back in fourth place.

His collapse was a result of an accumulation of factors: self-inflicted wounds, a perception that he was out of his depth, and the city s changing environment.

via www.nytimes.com

Probably Yang was too nice a guy to prosper in politics.