“The Platner campaign has reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like,” an anonymous Platner campaign spokesperson, too chickenshit to put their name on the record since they are still working for an alleged rapist, said in a statement to Politico.
The outlet reported that Platner’s preferred successors are Troy Jackson—a Democrat who just came in third in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary—and state Rep. Valli Geiger. Both had endorsed Platner and campaigned alongside him in his now-doomed quest to defeat Susan Collins, the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection this year.
Of course, every day that Platner stays in the race is another day lost in the lead-up to Election Day. Democrats must flip Collins’ Senate seat to have a realistic shot at winning back control of Congress’ upper chamber.
What’s more, Platner’s endorsement would likely be a liability for any potential successor. Collins could use it to raise questions about their character and credibility.
However, The New York Times reported that the Maine Democratic Party is considering hosting a statewide convention or caucus process to allow the state’s voters to choose Platner’s successor—which seems eminently fair. If voters choose someone other than Platner’s choice, then that would be their prerogative.
Meanwhile, Democrats are growing angrier by the minute that Platner has yet to drop out.
“Guess what after you have put the Democratic Party in a shambles and undermined all Democratic candidates running for office in Maine then you should have no say in who will be your successor,” Maine Democratic state Sen. Joe Baldacci wrote in a post on social media. “With all of his national endorsers withdrawing their support this [is] already going to be a tough race for any successor but having him looking for a guarantee is only going to tie a lead weight to any nominee.”
Ultimately, CNN reported that Platner “is expected to announce his decision through a recorded video, which could come later Wednesday.”
“As of this morning, the message had not been taped,” CNN added.
The clock is ticking.
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