Graham Platner has mercifully concluded his time was up on Wednesday evening. In an 11-minute video, Maine’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate dropped out of the race even as he continued to forcefully deny a serious and credible allegation of rape from a former girlfriend reported Monday by POLITICO. He also displayed an unsurprising lack of awareness and accountability by casting blame on the “political establishment” for his campaign’s implosion. “They are going to take everything away from us,” he said with apparent self-pity, referring to “those in power” who put “structural pressure” on him to withdraw.
What Platner failed to acknowledge was the effect the allegation had on Democrats. As the account shook the party on Monday afternoon, it also served to generate something of a political miracle: In just a few hours, Democrats across the political spectrum, from centrist New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim to New York Rep. (and Squad member) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, united in calling on Platner to drop out.
