Maine Democrats Struggle to Mobilize 15,000 Platner Volunteers After Senate Bid Collapsed
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 26
Maine Democrats Struggle to Mobilize 15,000 Platner Volunteers After Senate Bid Collapsed
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 26
Summary
A month after Graham Platner quit Maine’s Senate race, some of his most committed backers still have not embraced replacement nominee Troy Jackson, exposing a turnout risk for Democrats.
Platner dropped out on July 8 after sexual assault accusations, but his anti-establishment campaign had built a fervent following — including roughly 15,000 volunteers Democrats now need for get-out-the-vote efforts.
That volunteer resistance matters in a race Democrats have targeted for 30 years: a late June NYT/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll had Platner 2 points ahead of Susan Collins, while a late September Time/Siena poll showed Collins up 3.
Collins has also held about a 30-point advantage over Jackson among white working-class voters, though more recent polling suggests the contest has tightened in the final weeks.