Why did caesar marry pompeia if he was a populares?

Question

she was sulla's step-daughter, obviously in support of the optimates!.... isnt it said that caesar always stuck to the populares??

Answer 1

   Caesar was still a Patrician, and would be expected to marry within his class. Pomeia's marriage to him would seem to be a political one, but not one that would cause a problem with his support in the populares. Sulla was dead by this time, and Caesar was on the brink of beginning his climb to ultimate power. The marriage most likely did not bring him significant political influence, and Caesar would remarry soon enough, after divorcing her. There seems little about Pompeia to make her stand out, either as a tool of a political party, or as a person in her own right. Certainly nothing in her background would indicate she would pull Caesar into the sphere of the optimates over the populares, where his power base would remain firmly grounded.

Answer 2

Caesar was first and foremost for Caesar, not for anyone else.  He was an opportunist who changed his allegiances to suit his climb to power, whether that meant marrying into the Optimate class to secure financial or political support, or ingratiating himself to the masses.  His position within the Populares party was not one of principal.

Answer 3

there were populares, and there were populares.  Julius was a popularis the same way that the Kennedy's are Democrats.  Also, it was easier for a young man starting out to gain more rapid advancement in populares.