Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner canceled a slate of upcoming fundraisers and paused digital ads Tuesday, the clearest sign yet that the embattled oyster farmer may abandon his bid to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, after a Politico report alleging he sexually assaulted a former girlfriend triggered a mass Democratic exodus.

The campaign has iced at least a half-dozen in-person fundraisers planned for the coming days and put Facebook and Instagram ads on hold, according to a person with direct knowledge of the moves cited by Politico.

On a call with staff Monday night, Platner told aides a decision was coming but stopped short of firm commitments, the outlet reported.

Donors are pulling away in real time.

Marc Weiss, who had organized a virtual fundraiser slated for Thursday, told attendees in an email that “in light of the very disturbing allegations against Platner, we have called off the event with him this Thursday.”

Morris Pearl, chair of the Patriotic Millionaires and a co-host of the same event, told Politico the fundraiser was scrapped because of “all the uncertainty around” Platner’s candidacy and predicted the nominee was “about to” drop out.

The pressure campaign hardened Monday after Politico reported that Jenny Racicot, a Maine woman who had dated Platner on and off, said he entered her home uninvited in late 2021 while intoxicated and forced her to have sex.

More here

Tagged: Politics BACK TO HOMEPAGE