Today we published a story about Tulsi Gabbard’s popularity in unusual corners - the Russian state media, white nationalists, alt-right Internet trolls who call her “Mommy” - and the suspicions it has raised among some establishment Democrats. nytimes.com/2019/10/12/us/…
.@llerer and @kevinroose have been following strange online activity around Gabbard for months, and we decided to start putting together this story a week ago - before Gabbard’s online announcement Thursday that she might boycott the next debate.
Gabbard has struggled in the race, and her boycott threat could spur supporters to boost her fundraising and poll numbers. But her antiestablishment message & conspiracy theories also hold appeal for people in the US and abroad, including those who push disinformation.
As @llerer writes, Gabbard’s fans are especially sensitive to claims that she is supported by Russian bots and amplified by Russian media outlets — a conspiracy theory by her critics, they say, that is designed to delegitimize her campaign and her foreign policy views.
If you have comments about this article, please feel free to email me at pdh@nytimes.com. Thanks. nytimes.com/2019/10/12/us/…
