The author admits Platner is better than the republican. To defeat the republican in this current system, lots of people gotta vote for Platner. This potential victory is anything but assured. Mountains of money will be spent to get Collins across the line. What the author sees as “cult” could easily be also seen as simply agitating for people to come out and vote for the non-republican. Whatever anyone wants to call it, that’s the function - helping get Platner beat Collins. I don’t see the point to smear this agitation.

Besides, the fact that the Democratic establishment also spent a boat of money to try and defeat him, smear him, Platner has got to present some threat to them.