Four years ago, Democrats were falling over themselves in delight. Republicans in Georgia knowingly nominated Herschel Walker, a political newcomer with mental health issues, accusations of domestic violence and stalking, and a no-exceptions opposition to abortion rights despite his alleged history of partners availing themselves of them.
Maine Democrats on Tuesday nominated their own version of Walker in Graham Platner, an oyster farmer with a thick and messy oppo file that includes Nazi imagery, sexting with women other than his wife, and allegations of domestic abuse. The 41-year-old harbormaster and combat veteran coasted to the nomination against five-term Sen. Susan Collins, age 73, in an election cycle in which Platner’s fiery spirit matches the mood and Collins’ cautious brand very much doesn’t.
In my conversations around Washington, the mood among Democrats is something close to a hostage situation. In a crucial race, they feel handcuffed to an untested candidate, one who they wish would step aside for the good of the party. The mood is different in Maine, where my colleague Julia Terruso found Democrats far more unfazed by the latest Platner revelations, including accusations from an ex-girlfriend that he was physically threatening.
In claiming the nomination Tuesday evening, Platner struck a tone of defiance about his skeptics. He said pundits, reporters, and Democrats in the the political establishment “keep looking for that one story, that one headline, that one moment in my life that they can define the campaign by.” Instead, he said they missed the bigger message he brought to the trail, one of second chances. “It is my job to earn your trust, faith, and support,” Platner said. It may prove a heavy lift.
Nevertheless, Platner is now the nominee, which means Maine is about to engage in an expensive experiment to answer several thorny questions: What are voters willing to overlook? How much weight does incumbency carry? Will v
