A poll from Maine since Platner dropped out...

[kentuck]

I saw this on CNN.

Before Platner dropped out of the race, Susan Collins was up by +1 in the poll.

Since Platner dropped out, a generic poll showed Democrats up by +13 points. Granted that does not show a specific name, but it could be a good indicator for the Democrats, in my opinion.

Susan Collins is not as popular this time around as she was in previous elections, for whatever reason. Her voting record may have finally caught up with her?

If the Democrats can take that seat, it would be a big step forward in taking control of the Senate.

And that would be a big step in taking our country back from the brink.

[Turbineguy]

1. Sounds like she should be concerned.

[erronis]

16. Maybe an extra furrow in her brow?

[WorseDayEver]

18. Why should she be ? She is a multi-millioanaire with multi-millionaire friends.

[kentuck]

19. "concerned" is one of her favorite terms...

She has been "concerned" several times.

[3catwoman3]

37. I think it is her only term.

[Pototan]

41. Concerned about keeping her seat and power

not being broke.

[SalamanderSleeps]

43. She's still going to rest in the same box as Lindsey, eventually.

[303squadron]

27. I love sarcasm

When it burns!!!!

[Attilatheblond]

2. Something we often forget re senate races

In 6 years, a lot of young people become newly minted voters. In 6 years, the demographics can shift enough to make an impact.

[groundloop]

31. True.... when they actually show up to vote.

The younger people whom I know get easily discouraged if things don't go their way. (And that's exactly what the GQP wants).

[Beartracks]

33. This is my concern. (In a real way, not in a Collins way.)

[hlthe2b]

3. Well, that is (potentially) some good news! Thanks, kentuck

[Ritabert]

4. How about Stephen King? He's been posting against Trump for years.

[okaawhatever]

10. He said politics were too scary for him. 😂

[Ritabert]

12. Too bad.

[pinkstarburst]

28. King is 78 years old

and has no experience other than tweeting.

There are some good choices in the running who have experience.

[yardwork]

5. I hope Maine can ride that wave to victory!

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Dems ditched a candidate with baggage who had turned off some voters

A cleaner candidate might fare better, and the party looks competent, able to police its own.

[thesquanderer]

15. though also, "generic" almost always polls better than any individual (n/t)

[Boo1]

7. In other words

The Democratic socialist that would "motivate people" was polling 12 points below a Democrat TBNL

[Gary 50]

11. No. A Democrat with multiple accusations against him is polling 12 points below

a yet to be chosen Democrat. Nice try with the "Democratic socialist" slander.

[Boo1]

14. Slander ?

To call somebody what they called themselves?

And it wasnt the accusations bringing him down because they hadn't been made yet. He was on a path to lose before, and Collins was happy to be facing him.

This is about how DSA candidate do not have nearly the broad appeal that DSA folks want people to believe.

[Soul_of_Wit]

17. Here is your slander

that would "motivate people"

Some might refer to it as an opinion or even painting with a broad brush.

[Boo1]

23. Really?

Because that was all I heard for month. We NEED somebody to motivate the voters and it was Platner! Was always BS.

[mr715]

21. Was Graham Platner a DSA member or are you just making that up?

[Boo1]

22. His reddit posts said so

[mr715]

25. I just googled and couldn't find anything

He said a lot of stuff.

Did he ever pay dues to the DSA? Does he have a membership card like I do to the ACLU?


Edit: Upon further googling, it appears he said he was a "DSA" type. Not necessarily a member, sensu stricto

[stopdiggin]

34. a distinction that matters greatly ?

Gotta have a 'card' or it don't count?

pount being, the guy put himself in that corner .. (rightly or wrongly). Let's not be castigating DU posters for saying so. Yeah?

[Celerity]

35. Platner was not a DSA member and the Maine DSA did not explicitly endorse him

Link to tweet

https://theconversation.com/democratic-socialists-arent-the-only-young-progressive-democrats-dividing-the-party-286411

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/18/inside-dsa-takeover-democratic-party/

[SunSeeker]

42. Platner was recruited to run by DSA members, and was endorsed by Bernie Sanders.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5908426-sanders-supports-platner-maine/

Bernie didn’t pull his endorsement until July 7. https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-breaks-silence-graham-platner-rape-allegation-12167586

Morris Katz and his DSA colleagues Daniel Moraff and Leanne Fan recruited Platner without properly vetting him.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/these-people-handpicked-graham-platner-he-s-now-democrats-biggest-risk/ar-AA252G8G

Here’s Platner telling Jon Stewart about how they came to his house to talk him into running. Apparently, the extent of their vetting consisted of them looking up that he donated to Bernie Sanders, as Platner notes at the 8:12 minute mark:

[lame54]

8. ICE may have just sealed the deal

[NCDem47]

9. And the Collins camp had spent $$$$ and WEEKS (Months?) of oppo reserach to go against Planter.

Poof! All out the window! She wanted Planter because HIS character was going to be what she used against him. Now, another Dem can shift back to Collins carrying water for Trump and tarring HER with his corruption and incompetence.

[sheshe2]

13. Recommend!!!!!!!!

[Roxi]

20. Platner wasn't a great candidate

I’m nowhere near Maine, but when he first announced his candidacy, I was put off by him. The tattoo, the arrogance, his history, all of it made me think he had significant skeletons in his closet. When the first sexual assault allegations came out, I wasn’t surprised.

I think there was a huge push to make him the candidate no matter what, and a lot of people probably supported him only because he won the primary. Now that he’s out, people are more optimistic. As long as there’s a good Democratic candidate, we might actually beat Collins.

[QueerDuck]

24. He was a disaster. A train wreck. Collins would have cleaned his clock!

I'm very happy to hear this news.

[RandySF]

26. I read that Jackson regularly outperformed

is his old state Senate seat that was otherwise pretty red.

[FakeNoose]

36. Scoop Jackson was a stellar Democrat, and a leader in the Senate

[Bluetus]

29. Or perhaps this is the explanation:

People were listening to Platner because he talked directly to the issues, unlike the usual doublespeak that candidates from BOTH parties are trained to do continuously. The people had some uneasiness with Platner's background, but they very much were called to action by a candidate with the courage to speak the plain truth and to call for real changes, not just happy talk.

Now Platner is gone and this generic poll represents how Mainers feel if he is replaced by their idealized candidate -- i.e. a person who is no bullshit, but doesn't have as much baggage.

Is there any such candidate in the running now? I know they all plan to use "progressive-ish" words in their speeches, but is there any candidate stepping up to carry on with real specifics and real action plans?

[appmanga]

30. She's on the Judiciary Committee...

...and if she votes for Blanche, she's done. She can't "hall pass" her way out of this one.

[mr715]

32. Also, any Supreme Court vacancies...

She is screwed either way.

[spanone]

38. K&R

[Cosmocat]

39. The ICE murder doesn't help her either

nm

[BigmanPigman]

40. After ICE murders one of Maine's residents, which Collins supports

by approving funds to keep ICE in tact, I see the number of her supporters dropping like flies. I bet she still will not show up, why would she change now? We know what and who she is and it ain't pretty. TRAITOR!!!!!!! Storm HER office and home on Bastille Day tomorrow! STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!!!!!

"Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) voted to advance a $70 billion budget plan to continue funding ICE and Border Patrol. Her vote was cast as part of a legislative package to prevent a partial government shutdown, which was heavily debated and criticized by local groups".