Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, is suspending his campaign following sexual assault allegations.
Platner announced his decision in an 11-minute video posted to social media on Wednesday evening, in which he angrily accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of “using these allegations to take away all of the things we need to run a campaign” and acting “as judge, jury and executioner”.
“For the movement to continue, it can’t be me,” he said. “For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations.”
In the video, Platner vehemently stood by his assertion that the accusations were “not remotely true”, claiming they were driven by “large forces ... working against [him] personally”.
Yeah, right. A guy who got waaay more good press and support than he deserved had his campaign derailed by “large forces” who, um, dug up the incriminating information that he thought he could get away with. That’s called “politics” boyo, and you just got schooled. Joe’s piece on Tuesday said everything that needed to be said about Platner, and I won’t repeat it.
As usual, Kay got this one right. I was wrong to even entertain the notion that this drama llama could make it to the general election.
I was talking to John Cole the other day and he made the point that the reason AOC didn’t endorse is (probably) because she was a bartender. She’s seen his kind before.
Two more things. First, the Maine Democratic Party will pick his replacement at a nomination convention. That’s fine — I assume they’ll pick someone good, and it won’t be like the nonsense “open convention” that pundits were slavering for after Biden dropped out.
Second, Platner’s team spent some of their infinity of money on a poll that showed that some Maine politicians poll better than others, but the bottom line on all of those polls is that the undecideds could swing either way. It’s heartening that the polls show that Collins is still in trouble (under 50% for an incumbent), but a poll shouldn’t be used to pick Platner’s successor. Maine is a small enough states that the Democrats who go to a convention will have a decent idea about which candidate can win.
Collins is still vulnerable and this race ain’t over.
