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BeyondGeography

(41,138 posts)

21. There's a school of thought that Platner is the better choice because he's more likely to broaden the tent

Wed Dec 31, 2025, 12:27 PM

Dec 2025

Summarized here; I’d be interested to hear what you think:

Collins outperformed Donald Trump in every county. She built commanding margins in rural Maine, offsetting Democratic gains in Portland and the southern coast. Her real breakthrough came in the kinds of small towns where Trump lost and she won or closed the margin: Ellsworth, Brewer, Machias, Gardiner and Winterport.

Those former mill towns and service hubs once anchored the Maine Democratic Party. They’re home to exactly the kinds of voters who, in principle, might give someone like Platner a hearing: not deeply ideological, modestly skeptical of both parties and wary of national polarization.

But they are also the voters least represented in the Democratic primary electorate or the donor class fueling Platner’s campaign.

https://theconversation.com/why-rural-maine-may-back-democrat-graham-platners-populism-in-the-senate-campaign-but-not-his-party-269466

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Highlight:

For the "Janet Mills is too old" crowd--and to her supporters as well [View all] DFW Dec 2025 OP

Wow... I'm So Glad I saw this Cha Dec 2025 #1

You know me. "Jetlag" is my middle name. DFW Dec 2025 #9

I bet.. Born to Fly! Cha Dec 2025 #12

Thank you for posting this LetMyPeopleVote Dec 2025 #2

Thank you! betsuni Dec 2025 #3

Thank you, DFW. Spot on. yorkster Dec 2025 #4

I certainly agree with you, DFW Rhiannon12866 Dec 2025 #5

Excellent post and I agree 100% sheshe2 Dec 2025 #28

Cool! 2naSalit Dec 2025 #6

Maybe jaymac Dec 2025 #7

Maine's electorate is just never going to give you a downeast Gavin Newsom DFW Dec 2025 #8

Thank you... like your reply.. Cha Dec 2025 #10

okay jaymac Dec 2025 #11

Their mindset and policies have helped me far more than those of, say, Bernie Sanders. W_HAMILTON Dec 2025 #20

It is up to Maine to decide, not me AZProgressive Dec 2025 #24

And Sinema also voted for quite a bit of Democratic bills that helped the average American. W_HAMILTON Dec 2025 #25

I don't see Sinema having Cha Dec 2025 #31

Yep. Furthermore, Sinema certainly wasn't seen as """establishment""" when she was first elected. W_HAMILTON Jan 2026 #34

The comparison to Gavin Newsom would make more sense AZProgressive Dec 2025 #23

Second paragraph, +++ a zillion times! sheshe2 Dec 2025 #29

Happy birthday to Gov. Janet "took-Trump-to-court-and-won" Mills! LetMyPeopleVote Dec 2025 #13

Yes, Happy Birthday Today.. December 30! Cha Dec 2025 #16

Eve could have been her midwife dsc Dec 2025 #14

In this case, unseating Collins is the priority. maxsolomon Dec 2025 #15

If it's any consolation DFW Dec 2025 #19

There are other objections to her than simply age EdmondDantes_ Dec 2025 #17

It is not yet at all clear that she will be able to defeat Platner for the nomination... Jack Valentino Dec 2025 #30

Janet is sharp and experienced mainer Dec 2025 #18

There's a school of thought that Platner is the better choice because he's more likely to broaden the tent BeyondGeography Dec 2025 #21

Yes, I can't disagree that Platner might have a better chance mainer Dec 2025 #22

Aloha mainer.. "Young people" care so little about our Cha Jan 2026 #32

I want to give young people more credit, but... mainer Jan 2026 #33

My take? She is highly electable. Impressive woman. ALBliberal Dec 2025 #26

Another take? She entered race reluctantly but felt she is the one to win it. ALBliberal Dec 2025 #27