One of the reasons I like Andrew Gillum so much--maybe it's shallow--he's so inherently likeable.
Don't get me wrong. There have been plenty of highly likeable Democrats and elected officials on local, state and federal levels before 2016.
There are plenty of highly likeable Democrats and elected officials currently serving in local, state and federal levels at this very moment. We talk about them all the time here. We root for them. We cheer for them.
But its just such a refreshing feeling to see a fresh, relatively unknown face in politics come out of the blue now in 2018 who just makes you happy. Who makes you smile. Who you get a genuinely good feeling for when you hear them speak. Who makes you optimistic that all is not lost.
Because over the past two years, we've been forced to endure on a literally daily basis the exploits, the criminality, the hatred and the brutishness of a man who is quite possibly the worst human being this country has seen in our lifetimes. A man who sucks out all the positivity in the room like a vacuum. A man who exposes the very worst a person can become. And tragically, that man is the President of the United States, the most powerful man in the country and one of the most powerful men in the world.
And that does a number on us psychologically, and wears us down, and makes us bitter and cynical about everything, including elected politics.
So when someone like Andrew Gillum comes along--and he's not alone; there are numerous candidates out there I can be describing here--it's truly a beautiful thing. Young, motivated, accomplished, optimistic, beautiful family, a man who focuses on building up rather than tearing down or walling around. It makes me feel so good. And so hopeful that despite the horrors that we have seen from the man in the White House, perhaps we're not heading towards our darkest fears after all.
I didn't even vote for Gillum in the primaries--I voted for one of his equally qualified opponents--but the moment I heard his acceptance speech I couldn't help but feel stirred.
I just smiled. Because of a politician. And in 2018, that's becoming such a rare thing.
Do yourself a favor. Watch this video. It's about six minutes but it's well worth it. And tell me you don't feel better that there are still good people like Andrew Gillum running for office these days.
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So uplifting! It makes me happy that he got the nomination to run for Governor of FL and represent our party and it's ideals to lift everyone out of poverty and enhance public education. 
Love at first sight!
