Hello @themarkymark and @binaryuniverse, nice to e-meet you! I imagine you've already read this @behindsteemit contribution (https://steemit.com/steemit/@behindsteemit/behind-steemit-16-haejin-voting-circle-berniesanders-right) that partially confirms your suspicion, binary.
A part of his followers accounts is fake... and another part is critical about his behaviour (I confess I do follow his threads, but it doesn't mean I support their content, haha, and I bet we're many Steemians doing so).
Mark, I'm gonna send you right now my Witness vote. Keep up being yourself :-)