Graham Platner withdraws from Maine Senate race amid assault

Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, withdrew from the race last week amid multiple scandals, including a sexual assault allegation he has denied. His departure, just days before a critical party deadline, has thrown the high-stakes contest against longtime Republican incumbent Susan Collins into disarray and prompted intense scrutiny of the political operatives who propelled his rapid rise.

Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, was initially portrayed as a charismatic outsider who could appeal to working-class voters. A small group of out-of-state consultants, led by Democratic operative Daniel Moraff, discovered and recruited him, promoting him as a model for anti-establishment Democratic politics. Internal campaign communications revealed the team’s aggressive marketing of Platner, with one consultant describing him as a cross between a rugged JFK and Bernie Sanders.

However, according to reports, these operatives failed to conduct a proper vetting of the candidate. A research firm hired by the campaign flagged dozens of problematic social media posts by Platner and recommended deeper background checks, but that advice was reportedly not...