Dems lose Maine attraction; scandal scarred candidate quits Senate race
The TOI correspondent from Washington: The abrupt collapse of Democrat Graham Platner 's Senate campaign in Maine has thrown one of America's most closely watched midterm contests into turmoil and revived a recurring question in US politics: how much do allegations of sexual misconduct still matter to voters?
Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer, harbormaster and Marine Corps veteran from coastal Maine, emerged this year as an unlikely political sensation. Running as an anti-establishment progressive with the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders, he built a formidable grassroots movement and defeated more established Democratic figures to become the party's nominee against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The race is crucial because Maine is one of the Democrats' best opportunities to flip a GOP-held Senate seat, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 53-47 Senate majority. Party strategists viewed Collins, despite her moderate image and long political experience, as unusually vulnerable, with polls had shown Platner leading the longest serving Republican woman in the Senate – 30 years with five six-year terms behind her – by several points.
Those hopes imploded this week after a former romantic partner accused Platner of sexually assaulting her during an encounter in late 2021 and another former girlfriend alleged that he removed a condom during sex without consent. The accusations came on top of earlier controversies involving offensive online posts and questions about his personal conduct.
In a video announcing the suspension of his campaign, Platner called the accusations "all false" but concluded that "for the movement to continue, it can't be me." He said he was stepping aside because the controversy had become a distraction from the issues that animated his campaign.
Democrats had embraced Platner despite earlier red flags because he appeared to possess something increasingly rare in American politics: the ability to energize progressive voters while also attracting some working-class and even Trump-supporting voters. His insurgent candidacy raised millions of dollars and generated extraordinary enthusiasm in a state where Democrats have struggled to defeat Collins for 30 years. The party is now racing to find a replacement
Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer, harbormaster and Marine Corps veteran from coastal Maine, emerged this year as an unlikely political sensation. Running as an anti-establishment progressive with the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders, he built a formidable grassroots movement and defeated more established Democratic figures to become the party's nominee against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The race is crucial because Maine is one of the Democrats' best opportunities to flip a GOP-held Senate seat, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 53-47 Senate majority. Party strategists viewed Collins, despite her moderate image and long political experience, as unusually vulnerable, with polls had shown Platner leading the longest serving Republican woman in the Senate – 30 years with five six-year terms behind her – by several points.
Those hopes imploded this week after a former romantic partner accused Platner of sexually assaulting her during an encounter in late 2021 and another former girlfriend alleged that he removed a condom during sex without consent. The accusations came on top of earlier controversies involving offensive online posts and questions about his personal conduct.
In a video announcing the suspension of his campaign, Platner called the accusations "all false" but concluded that "for the movement to continue, it can't be me." He said he was stepping aside because the controversy had become a distraction from the issues that animated his campaign.
Democrats had embraced Platner despite earlier red flags because he appeared to possess something increasingly rare in American politics: the ability to energize progressive voters while also attracting some working-class and even Trump-supporting voters. His insurgent candidacy raised millions of dollars and generated extraordinary enthusiasm in a state where Democrats have struggled to defeat Collins for 30 years. The party is now racing to find a replacement
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