During Tuesday's mayoral primary in Los Angeles, NBC News Now sent correspondent Liz Kreutz to the streets to speak with some spirited fans of Republican Spencer Pratt, and they had reason to celebrate.
Spencer Pratt's Surprising Showing
As of Wednesday, Mayor Karen Bass (D) secured enough votes to qualify for a Nov. 3 runoff, according to The Associated Press. But Pratt, a former reality TV villain on MTV's "The Hills," earned roughly 30% of the vote and has a good chance of facing Bass in the fall.
Chaotic Encounter with Supporters
Kreutz asked a few of Pratt's supporters why they like him, and they gave her a drunken piece of their minds. One man, wearing a black striped suit and holding a cigarette and a cocktail, said, "He's speaking out against communism and socialism. It is a real big problem in our cities, especially in LA, where it's turned to crap. It's not an accident. They're doing it by design. Karen Bass wants to destroy our city, and it's nice to see someone like Spencer Pratt."
His friend, wearing a Pratt shirt and yellow Venice Beach hat, interjected: "I can simplify it because those buzzwords melt the brains of left-leaning people. Let's just say: He doesn't want human feces to be a part of your life. He doesn't want homeless children outside." The first man nodded, danced, and humped the air, while Kreutz backed away.
Reporter's Discomfort
At the mention of feces and homelessness, Kreutz distanced herself. The man in the yellow hat yelled, "You didn't like that!" as she retreated. He continued shouting about "homeless people outside of elementary schools having sex with their own hands" while making a stroking gesture. Kreutz backed up further, saying, "We appreciate you! We talked a lot about the homelessness, thank you."
Despite the distance, the hat-wearing man grabbed her mic and yelled, "I don't appreciate you, ma'am!" before storming off. Back in the studio, anchor Hallie Jackson told a flummoxed Kreutz, "Thank you for navigating that so well."
Another Supporter Appears
As Kreutz looked around, a third man in a blazer with a small American flag jumped into the frame, rambling: "I just want to shout out the chief of staff of Spencer. She's incredible. MAGA. Mar-a-Lago queen!" The Russell Brand look-alike then jumped in, lifting two cocktails into the air.
"Hallie, all I'll say is they're taking a few shots, they're feeling good out here," Kreutz said with a grin. Jackson quipped, "The margaritas are flowing there."
