Were it not for a wardrobe malfunction, Kenneth Bone may not have wowed television audiences Sunday night with the red Christmas sweater that has helped turn him into an overnight sensation following the second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
“I had a really nice olive suit that I love a great deal and my mother would have been very proud to see me wearing on television, but apparently I have gained about 30 pounds and when I went to get into my car the morning of the debate, I split the seat of my pants all the way open,” Mr. Bone told CNN Monday. “So the red sweater is plan B, and I am glad it worked out.”
Mr. Bone was among the undecided voters on stage that got a chance to direct a question at the candidates, posing what some might consider impossible inquiry: “What steps will your energy policy take to meet our energy needs while at the same time remaining environmentally friendly and minimizing job layoffs?”
Beyond that, though, the online world went gaga over his everyman appeal.
From his well-groomed mustache to his white tie, black-rimmed glasses and that red sweater — the Twitterverse marveled at how it all just seemed to come together for him at this singular moment in time.
And he added to his lore by coming armed with a disposable camera to capture the experience.
Shortly after the event, someone established a fake Ken Boone Twitter account and posted: “Im not the hero you want. I’m the hero you need.” Others started floating Ken Bone Halloween costumes.
Mr. Bone told CNN his number of Twitter followers have ballooned.
“I went from last night having seven Twitter followers — two of which were my grandmother because she had to remake her account once she forgot her password — to now I have several hundred,” he said. “I don’t know why they care what I have to say, but I am glad they are engaged in the political process.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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