The local media around me keep covering someone who 'may run for governor' and his ignorant antics... Sometimes it's the same 'thinking of running' story again and again. As far as I can tell he hasn't even taken step 1 to actually run, other than wrap the media around his finger to give him free attention.
Beyond that anyone else who might run, no coverage at all...
Maybe that was true years ago but I really don't know that it is today. Social media is the primary means of communication for a lot of people and in a very real sense it is real life. I'd argue the Capitol riot in January is an example of social media becoming very real. Even the topic at hand - /r/wallstreetbets and $GME - shows the same.
Social media incentivizes controversial takes. Real people tend to be more in the middle. Never confuse social media for real life.