Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner appeared on Jon Stewart’s podcast The Weekly Show on Thursday, and the political newcomer got high marks from the seasoned political talkshow host.
The oyster farmer from Sullivan and military veteran with a populist message has struck a chord with Democrats who have seen their party drift to the right for decades, abandoning working people in favor of courting corporate interests.
Recent polls have given him a large lead over his closest Democratic competitor, Gov. Janet Mills. Should he win the primary, he would face five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
On Thursday, he appeared to impress the longtime Daily Show host, who commended him for his authenticity, which he called “refreshing.”
“I talk to people in politics all the time and have done it for many years,” Stewart said about 20 minutes into the hour-plus interview. “This might be the longest conversation I’ve had [with a politician] without a platitude.”
Platner talked about his entry to politics, the need for a political revolution, wealth inequality, the Democratic establishment and more.
“You have been caricatured in many ways, in the national media,” Stewart said at the end of the podcast. “And so to be able to spend an hour or so just getting to know you and getting to know your story, you really make a lot more sense to me now.”
