Petey left himself wide open for anything that gets thrown at him by making his gayness front and center from the day he announced. So obviously he doesn’t expect to win rather to use the race to advance his personal and political advancement.
Didn't need that.
First, as you say, he has decided to make his gayness define who he is.
Second, the idiot picks a fight with Vice President Pence, arguably the kindest, most considerate person in politics and Petey yammers on about how God wouldn't approve of Mike Pence's stand on traditional marriage.
Sorry, but Petey is just another third-rate political hack.