The campaign of Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner has officially collapsed, brought down by a wave of scandals that culminated in a serious sexual assault allegation.
Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran who had been propped up by far-left figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, announced he is suspending his operations after the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and state party leaders pulled their financial and political support.
The downfall began in earnest this week when Jenny Racicot, 41, alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and sexually assaulted her while intoxicated. Platner has denied the claim, calling it 'categorically false,' but the political damage was immediate.
This is merely the latest chapter in a campaign plagued by controversy; previous reports revealed Platner had a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, had exchanged sexual messages with women while married, and had previously posted on Reddit that sexual assault victims should 'take some responsibility for themselves.' While Platner attempts to frame his exit as a stand against the political establishment, the reality is that his own history of erratic behavior and offensive rhetoric made him a liability.
As the Maine Democratic Party scrambles to select a replacement before the July 13 deadline, the party is left to deal with the fallout of backing a candidate whose personal conduct proved indefensible.
With the party desperate to flip Senator Susan Collins' seat to gain control of the Senate, the chaos in their ranks highlights the fragility of their electoral strategy.
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