U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a "Summer Soiree" held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 4, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

During the 1990s, then-President Bill Clinton famously argued that when it comes to choosing candidates, "Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line." Countless political analysts have repeated that line since then, including frustrated conservatives who believe that Republicans are much to quick to vote in lockstep with their party rather than having a mind of their own.

Politico's Jonathan Martin applies Clinton's words in an article published on October 22, describing a pattern that, he argues, can be strategically disadvantageous for Democrats.

Martin writes, "Will Democrats ever learn to stop swooning?.... It goes something like this: Political outsider or mostly new name mounts statewide campaign with online video that leans heavily on compelling biography or powerful oratory, out-of-state liberal hobbyists quickly fall in love and fork over money, and journalists rush to profile the latest heartthrob before inevitable disappointment when the candidate loses or, well, becomes John Fetterman."

Martin cites populist Graham Platner, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in Maine's 2026 U.S. Senate race. The primary finds him competing in the primary with Maine Gov. Janet Mills — a much more establishment candidate — and the winner will presumably go up against incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.

"A military veteran turned oysterman who looked the hirsute part," Martin observes, "the Mainer's populist candidacy seemed to be an immaculate conception. The contributions piled up, the profiles were published — and then suddenly, there was a disruption to the formula. Or maybe it was more of an acceleration. Once his Democratic rival, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, entered the race, Platner was hit with a nor'easter of oppo research that had the added value of being his own damning words. Rationalizing political violence, calling himself a 'communist,' referring to all police as 'bastards' and calling himself an 'Antifa supersoldier,' Platner's paper trail was the stuff of Sen. Susan Collins' dreams. And that was before Platner tried to get ahead of the next hit by revealing the apparent Nazi tattoo on his naked torso."

Martin adds, "There is more to come, I'm told by sources very familiar with the Platner opposition file who spoke on the condition of anonymity."

Democrats, the Politico columnist advises, need to be "more clear-eyed about winning elections."

"Which reminds me: No snickering at the other guys from you, Republicans — you've spent most of a decade enabling a personality cult," Martin argues. " And that leaves Democrats hungry, desperate really, for salvation. A new and better politics led by new and better people. But you can’t govern if you don’t win."

Jonathan Martin's full Politico column is available at this link.