You mean it isnt the fact that he is the living embodiement of Thurston Howell that turned voters off?
(Tongue-firmly-inserted-in-cheek here...)
I don't think the "Thurston Howell" label is fair..to Jim Backus, that is. The Backus character was:
a) Charmingly snobby
b) NOT a gigolo; he seemed to make his own money. And "Lovey" didn't give the appearance of being a wealthy heiress who herself married into money.
c) able to crack jokes that at least the Laughtrack laughed at. Kerry tries to tell a joke and the Laughtrack button mysteriously jams.
"Lurch" is definitely more appropriate. Btw, I believe I have located Kerry's long lost brother. In the admittedly gruesome and twisted cult favorite "Re-Animator", check out the character "Dr. Carl Hill".