I’m not sure there are many policy differences between David Costello and Graham Platner. Costello is a campaign operative and bureaucrat. Platner is a disillusioned and deeply thoughtful soldier. Costello is more mainstream and appears to color inside the lines. Platner is a disrupter who colors outside them.
Costello sounds like every unknown who has ever run for Democratic office. Platner offers stronger medicine. He aspires to be a two-fisted, more effective version of Bernie Sanders. Costello comes across as plain vanilla with a touch of the nerd. Platner is undeniably charismatic and has an aura about him that draws one in.
Personal magnetism may serve a tyrant as well as a statesman. But Platner’s demeanor is marked by humility rather than arrogance.
As for the Nazi tattoo and Reddit posts? At this point, I’m willing to accept Platner’s explanations. LBJ was a racist before he became a champion of civil rights. I’m voting for Platner.
Jeff Frankel
Windsor
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