Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has placed himself in an unusual place when it comes to Maine's increasingly heated race for the Senate: On the sidelines. 

"I'm staying out of Maine," the New York Democrat said Tuesday in a brief interview, Politico reported Wednesday. 

Schumer is well-known for his recruiting in key races this year and for his work leading the party's campaign arm.

But Maine Democrats have asked Schumer to stay out of the widening race to replace Graham Platner, the nominee who suspended his campaign following allegations of sexual misconduct, and Schumer's comments Tuesday signaled that he agrees. 

Instead, Schumer has chosen to focus on the November election and defeating veteran Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said that Schumer's hesitation makes good sense, given the number of nominees involved. 

Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he's not surprised that Schumer has decided to stay out of the race. 

"I can imagine why he would stay out of it," he said. "I can imagine why he would get into it."

Two people close to Schumer also said that his approach in the race, which would be to stay out of it and not pick a favorite, comes from concern that it could backfire if he were to pick a candidate. 

"He doesn't want to put his thumb on the scale," a Democrat strategist, who requested anonymity, commented. "Anyone he wants would be toxic."

Schumer had already been involved in the Granite State race at one point, spending months trying to entice Gov. Janet Mills to run against Collins. 

However, Mills was sidelined by Platner, who has denied the allegations lodged against him, particularly from one woman who claimed he raped her. 

Schumer also joined DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in a statement after the rape allegations surfaced, saying Maine Democrats should have "the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins."

Schumer also insisted, after Platner left the race, that "Democrats are going to defeat Susan Collins, win Maine, and take back the Senate." 

Meanwhile, several Maine candidates said they had not seen evidence that Schumer or the Washington-based groups he influences, including the DSCC and the Senate Majority PAC, had become involved in the search to replace Platner.

Sources close to candidates Nirav Shah and Shanna Bellows said their campaigns haven't heard from Schumer or the groups. 

Several senators who initially backed Platner, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., also said they have no plans to endorse a replacement before the convention. 

Heinrich said that Maine Democrats "have a process" to pick a successor. 

"They're the most informed people to figure out who best to pick up the mantle," he added. 

A source close to the DSCC also said that the group is allowing the Maine Democratic Party to pick Platner's successor, and is focused on defeating Collins. 

It has, however, established a fund that will likely be transferred to the eventual nominee after the convention, the source said.