Not looking like a candidate

Some people admired candidates who didn’t look like candidates, and who didn’t dress, or talk, or act like political creatures.

Ellis Levin was one of the people they liked. He had successfully mobilized Reformers to capture a contested seat in the state legislature in 1976.

He proved to be an able campaigner, a committed fund-raiser, and a knowledgeable and dedicated advocate for his district. But some people criticized his wardrobe.

They said he didn’t look professional enough, that his business attire was too odd and not stylish. They were afraid some people would not warm to him as the district included a significant upscale population that expected its leaders to look like leaders.

So, in a subsequent election, he donned sharp looking suits that better met those expectations.

But at one campaign gathering, in the home of a well-do-to supporter, the long underwear he wore under his suit to keep him warm while campaigning at bus stops peeked out of his coat sleeve.

“Oh, no,” a campaign aide whispered to the host, who was leaning against a wall at the back of the room while the candidate was speaking. “Do you see that?”

“Yeah!” the fellow answered. “Isn’t it great?”