Graham Platner may have cruised through the Democratic primary in Maine this spring, but fresh polling suggests the general election is shaping up to be a very different story for the scandal-plagued Senate hopeful.
As USA Journal reported, a new New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll shows Platner clinging to a razor-thin 49-47 lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a margin that looks even shakier when you consider the survey's sample skewed Democratic. Adjust for that lean, and Collins could realistically be ahead by anywhere from three to eight points.
Platner's baggage isn't exactly the carry-on variety. The oyster farmer and political newcomer has been dogged by revelations of a tattoo with Nazi overtones, resurfaced Reddit posts in which he mocked sexual assault victims, joked about self-pleasuring, and ridiculed a fellow veteran for being shot by the Taliban. On top of all that, reports surfaced in May and early June about him sexting up to a dozen women after getting married in November 2023, along with disturbing allegations of physical abuse and controlling behavior from a former girlfriend.
Democrats at every level initially rallied behind Platner after he easily defeated Gov. Janet Mills in the June primary. Mills had suspended her campaign back in April as the scandal tsunami was just getting started. The party's willingness to look past all of it tells you pretty much everything you need to know about priorities.
But rank-and-file voters are proving harder to wrangle. A majority of those surveyed said Platner's controversies have either shaken their confidence in him or pushed them away entirely. Perhaps most damning for Democrats: Collins is pulling 10 percent of voters who say they actually want Democrats to retake the Senate. That's a striking number of people choosing the Republican incumbent over their own party's nominee because the alternative is simply too toxic.
The character numbers are brutal for Platner. When asked who is "too extreme," 47 percent of likely voters pointed to Platner compared to just 34 percent for Collins. On the question of good character, Collins dominated 66 percent to 44 percent. Moral values? Collins again, 61 percent to Platner's considerably lower marks.
Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is keeping its powder dry, and the reason is strategic. July 14 marks the deadline for Platner to either withdraw from the race or be replaced by another Democratic candidate. Republican operatives appear content to wait and see whether Democrats try to swap him out before committing major resources.
If Platner stays in, and all signs suggest he will, voters should expect a flood of opposition research hitting airwaves between now and November. The scandals already on the table are damaging enough. Whatever remains in the file could turn a competitive race into a rout.
For a party desperate to reclaim the Senate majority, Maine is looking less like an opportunity and more like a cautionary tale about what happens when winning matters more than vetting.
Read more conservative news commentary at: USA Journal News
