the main opponent stopped campaigning. I mean, Collins run un-opposed so she got a 100 % of the vote. So I don't think his numbers mean what you think you do.
I can not find the totals of people voting for Platner versus Collins because for whatever reason they think her number of voters is not important. But that would be useful information to have.

Both parties had competitive governors races and those totals suggest the approximate number of people who opted to vote in each primary.

The totals for all candidates were 209, 537 for Democrats; 119,911 for Republicans. For Senator, 208,311 people voted, so some people who voted for one of the candidates for governor did not vote in the Senate race.

republicans voting?

I tried to figure that out by looking at previous years, but couldn't find a good comparison where a state wide race was competitive for both parties. The Senate comparisons are weird as King does not run as a Democrat and Collins has been uncontested in at least the last two primaries. ( I don't think it makes sense to go back before 2020 when she was last elected, as thinks may have shifted.)

Also, these numbers could be higher than normal as the Senate and Governor race would only both be on the ballot every 12 years.). The 2014 race both ran uncontested.

There were 126159 Democratic voters and 119,911 Republican voters. Much closer. I don't know enough about that election, but on the Democratic side there were many candidates and it was not a blowout.

It clearly looks like Platner energized a lot of people to come out. Oddly, that might be because of the last minute attacks. Otherwise, it would have been seen as not competitive at all with Mills having dropped out and Costello having little support per polling.

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especially lucky in Pearland, TX - a neighboring suburb - where the candidate who won the mayor's seat is a popular community member (democrat) - who challenged an equally popular republican city council member. There hasn't been a democratic mayor of Pearland for decades and really highlighted the changes we are seeing this year.

For the republican run-off many have now heard - our long-term republican senator Cornyn lost his bid when MAGA showed up to give Ken Paxton (of all people) a victory.

So, democrats and MAGA are voting. We need to really amp up efforts towards all dems (young, old, everyone!!) and moderates this fall - no matter which state we're in. I don't believe MAGA is a majority in this country, but a vocal minority that does show up to vote. Every single race. We've got to get our base out and appeal to moderates as well.

He got 150, 970. There only 101 585 votes in total on the Republican side for Governor.

Last reply on this, I promise!

I tried to find out what the numbers are, and for some bizarre reason they don't think reporting total number of voters for Collins is important. Even if she run un-opposed, it's still important to know the totals for comparison.

Those of us who live in Maine wanted Platner and would appreciate it if out-of-stater Dems would stop undermining our candidate. TYVM.

and would have voted for Platner, warts and all, if I did live there. Now that he's the nominee chosen by the majority of the Dem primary voters in Maine, I say it's time for the rest of us to let the people of Maine 86 Susan Collins for their sake and for the sake of all the rest of us. Undermining Platner helps Collins. None of us want her back.

has full cleavers in elections wherever he deems fit nationally.

He's trying to move the Overton window on our politics which comes from getting more people he thinks are in line with his approach than other Democrats. Does it always work? No.

Barack Obama did the same in 2006 (and obviously has afterwards), Elizabeth Warren does it. Ted Cruz has.

endorsed Texas Representative Henry Cuellar and, in Pelosi's case, not only swung by his Texas campaign headquarters to boost his chances, but recorded a robocall for the anti-choice candidate who was under active FBI investigation at the time of his primary battle against progressive Jessica Cisneros. The only reason Cuellar and his wife never had to go to court to fight federal bribery and money laundering charges was because Trump pardoned him last December.

Hillary Clinton even endorsed George Latimer in his matchup against Jamaal Bowman in 2024 despite several controversies, including Latimer telling a voter Bowman was "taking money from Hamas," allegedly mailed an anti-Bowman mailer that depicted Bowman with darkened skin, missed budget votes in the NY state Senate because he'd jetted off to England with his mistress, earlier appointed that same mistress to a six-figure county administrative position while serving as Westchester County Executive, and the list goes on.

Let Bernie endorse someone, though, and certain heads explode. Every. Single. Time.

LOL, be for real.

Everyone can chill. I know it's rare, but sometimes the establishment doesn't always get what it wants. And, as a progressive, I've received hundreds of these, "Blue No Matter Who" and "But you're still loyal, right?!" admonitions before a single word has left my mouth after a primary has finished.

I would not be so gauche as to repeat such behavior now that shoes have hopped feet.

I don't think we need another PUMA incident on our hands. It would be Bernie Broesque, and as noted ad infinitum, such behavior is not becoming of true Democrats.

Right?

So Bernie’s wife was wrong to tell everyone to vote their conscience, and we know what that meant. I don’t see the so-called establishment telling people to send messages that way, so your whole rabbit hole is amusingly non-responsive to the past, present, and future.

But this self-own was interesting: “now that shoes have hopped feet.” That’s an interesting self- reveal.

BernieBernieBernieBernie.

But the rock never gets to the top of the hill, does it?

Like Miss Havisham in her dress, the cake rotting all the while. We shall ever remember the Great Jilting and loathe all who come after on account.

It does no one any good to behave this way. It certainly doesn't promote any kind of political unity.

Becerra won. I was very much against him. But the primary is over, and no one here will hear me passive aggressive grousing about it until November (and sometimes not so passive). I certainly won't trace my complaints through the ages, forever picking at political scabs. In fact, progressives have been pretty chill. Perhaps some pages from that book can be borrowed.

It's true that coping skills are often undeveloped until necessity requires. But it has been required for a decade now.

People need to put on their "I didn't get what I want" adult fit and look to November.

This all sounds so 10 years ago.

who wouldn't have the money, organization, or skills. These are local people, not carpetbaggers. The money comes from small money contributions, not corporations or dark money.

Nobody has to vote for them.

But his election matters a lot to me, even though I can't vote for him. And I too wish Dems would stop undermining him.
Even those who say well, we have to vote Blue but it's a terrible choice to have to make. Damn. I wonder if they've even heard him speak.
They've bought the smear campaign and still don't recognize the phenomenon that he is, his dedication to working people (which he defines as everyone who works for a living), his brillliance, his courage.

and I understand the legitimate concern because we had a great known US rep running against a lesser known (at least outside of TX) state rep in the primary. But Texas dems made their choice. It's difficult because there is so much on the line, and people want the very best chance of winning w/a great candidate.

Now that we've got the primaries settled it's time to completely support our candidates!

He was a candidate all along.

Totally.


As for the results, all that engaging in carnal knowledge of small rodents by various interests including the media did not get them the usual happy ending.

Somehow she hoped the media would do the work for her? Mainers didn't fall for it.

NT

It's not like she was trying.

and "reminded" voters she was still on the ballot. It was not a good look for her. But in the end she MIScalculated.

Too tepid and cowardly by half.

Run righteously and don't worry about losing, because you won't

Run terrified of losing and you'll do just that. "I'm still in the race, by the way, from the comfort of the Governor's mansion!"

Makes sense given how abysmally she polled against Collin’s.

So…

did not reflect the larger % that she actually won by in her last election. That is what was being discussed. So her support seems hard to measure, at least by past election results versus the polling.

I heard my TV talking about this the other day, but it was on in the background and I didn’t get the speaker’s name. He was theorizing about this phenomenon with Collins. He said something along the lines of, maybe they’ll vote for her again one last time.

I doubt people will quit talking about that, Democrat or not. Welcome to politics especially on a political message board.

My understanding was Sara Gideon had oodles of money and was polling +6% or so... Collins ended up winning by 9%? And it was the biggest polling error of the cycle.

I think we're in a different time, and we'll see. As we've discussed before, I very much like his talking. And his foot work seems good too.

Do you think Collins will agree to a debate? I can't imagine she'd do well.

her to do what they all do — say he’s too liberal. I saw a clip on Google shorts (or some such) where she was saying that. That’s what they all do.

In this forum that Mills wasn’t out, how dare we support Platner, and Mainers should reject him. And now this , “in all fairness.” That’s moving the goal posts post facto. Seems Mainers decided NOT to fall for the bait and do Republicans work for them. Unlike those who will remain nameless. eyes:

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TRUTH

thrown at him.

end of story, move on.

I support Democrats.

but it would be pretty naive to think he will have an easy time winning the general election based on that.

Democrats are only daring to hope. But to ignore the excitement about Platner in the face of the negative press would also be pretty naive.
What is true, however you feel about Plattner, is that Democrats falling for the inevitable RW smears and amplifying them is the best way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

His scandals play into Susan Collins' support. There are people who will believe Graham Platner is a sexist, misogynist, men's rights candidate. Those low information, low propensity voters are coming from Susan Collins' base of support.

Additionally, he is a good speaker, while she is not. He speaks in terms of absolutes and does so simply, she never has.

He looks vital and dominating. She is tremulous and small.

"Moderates" don't seem to really have the appeal they once had, so I don't see Collins winning any ground there.

Finally, every single thing Trump does in the next several months is a challenge for Collins. If she supports an unpopular President, she risks losing mainstream support. If she fails to be lockstep, she is going to lose the MAGA base or worse, Trump actively rebukes her.

Imagine there is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. How could Collins vote that WOULDN'T hurt her?

In any case, while I acknowledge that Susan Collins has been a bedrock institution and political force in Maine, I think times up.

Our candidate is built to beat Susan Collins. More so than any other Democrat in consideration.

Much as Talarico might be the perfect candidate to run against Paxton, though that fight will be harder because Texas isn't Maine.

I don't believe these people are as cruel as Trump, they just feel left out by the educated elite. They fall for Trump's plain talk and low vocabulary as something they have in common. His bullyish attitude makes them feel better about their own bad behaviors.

Platner has the means to attract these people while also modelling another way. You don't have to have been perfect all your life, you don't have to be a college graduate, and you might not have grown up knowing the pc way to treat women. Most of the people (most of all people) aren't as brilliant or articulate as Platner, but he won't make you feel less than over that.

Bernie appealed to a lot of Trump voters because of his plain talk, and he was the true populist that they believed Trump to be.
I agree that Platner might get some of the low information voters you described. But i think he'll get a wider swath of working people who have gone Republican in recent years, and who might be ready to come home. Platner is the real deal, the real populist they were looking for in the first place. They aren't looking for a choir boy. They want someone who speaks their language.

I think the key to Platner's success is that he is going to voters and talking to them. He is articulating a vision for government that is functional while also giving his would-be constituency a chance to tell them about their needs and the trials they've faced.

As you say, Trump has a dominating presence and some people want a "daddy" leader. It is gross to me, but that is beside the point.

The nature of the upcoming election just favors the narratives Platner is pushing and complicates the potential story Collins wants to tell.

Does she claim she represents blue-state Maine?

Does she claim she is a ideologically consistent conservative? Or a pragmatic moderate?

Does she run on her successes with Kavanaugh et al.?

How is she going to keep her voters without mobilizing her opposition? How is she going to build her coalition without alienating her base?

With regard to Bernie Sanders 2016, I think part of his success had nothing to do with his plain talk. I think it was the first emergence of powerful countermedia narratives a la Rogan and other podcasts and social media campaigns. It was the appearance of distrust in institutionalism - we started seeing flat earthers again, for example. Bernie Sanders was the candidate that could run as an establish outsider. Since he was an underdog and since he is legitimately gifted with the best message discipline of anyone in the Democratic caucus, he quickly consolidated support around the populist left + anti-establishment unlikely voters.

I agree entirely that Platner opens up new voters and drives up turnout (to his advantage). That is why I see this election at probably a 5%-9% Platner win and not a 50/50 or 51/49.

so we have can't ignore her history of success, and outperforming polls.

Everything you said about Bernie, but I do think his repetitive plain talk was part of it, as opposed to Warren's 'I have a plan for that." (No criticism intended toward Warren, just think she didn't grab the population we are discussing).

Are your numbers correct at the end of your post? I don't understand a 5%-9% Platner win. Do you mean the margin?

My gut says Platner will win 54%-46% or so, maybe slightly tighter.

And yeah - Bernie Sanders makes an emotional pitch, and Warren makes an intellectual pitch. Emotional pitches make better politics.

Plus, intellectual pitches don't seem to be very well received when they are coming from women... Sec. Clinton and Sen. Warren were both wonky and detail oriented.

Sen. Sanders just kind of has numbers and enthusiasm.

While I voted for Mills twice, I felt times up for her.

As for Collins, she needs to go, times up 2x.

Similar vein. Stick to the end where he predicts - probably extremely correctly - the new tack the media will take (which will 100% get repeated here under the guise of "concern" )

https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/platner-wins-washington-whines

And oh, from "now here comes the hard part" to "he won by less than you think."

Graham Platner 149,918
Janet Mills 40,048
David Costello 17,207

The governor's race had a full slate of possibilities and is a measure of Democratic enthusiasm vs. Republicans.
The Democratic defenders of freedom cast 205,000 votes and the GOP fascists drew out about 110,000 voters.

without reservation.

Every one of us. Our Democracy depends on it.

But the same people are still trying to drag him down

What does that make the people who supported Platner who are moving together? Sounds mighty herd like. The rules of the site saying everyone has to support nominees, the general notion of political parties, employees who work together for a common company goal, unions, most people tend to move in herds of like minded people to accomplish things. That's not some special thing that only applies to those you disagree with as easy of an insult as it might be.

You support the Democratic nominee, yes?

pained at the choice they are being forced to make I wish I could reach out across the radio waves and punch them.

She's full blown petrified

Mills burned her bridges by taking huge amounts of money from big energy. A referendum on the CMP corridor was voted down, but somehow managed to continue to be built. Yes, I had my doubts about Platner, then I heard his speaks from Bar Harbor and was won over.

I never weighed in, primarily because I do not live in Maine. I am very pleased that the election went the way it did. I was hoping it would. This is a good sign but also a warning. Expect the PEDO/GOP to really escalate all of their foul tactics. It's already starting. It will get much worse before midterms. Again, i fully expect to see ICE at polling locations in blue/minority districts. But keep your heads up and keep pushing back. We will be victorious!

There is plenty of assistance from Democrats as well. Vote Blue No Matter Who only seems to apply to Manchin and Sinema type candidates.

whether political, business or media

He is the tip of the spear, fitting for a former-Marine, that is going to upend the cozy relationship the establishment enjoys with itself.

I am talking about FDR level radical change that won't be reversed by opponents as many of the New Deal programs ultimately were.

Took awhile to come around to the idea of radical change, but I doubt I'm alone. This is why the nibble at the edges crowd is terrified of Platner.

Then there need to be carve outs for Black Americans. We were dragged here too long ago and have had to wait too long.

I will completely turn against this country - if for example- we have to wait for Medicare for all - while PAYING for it -

Just like we did Social Security.

Give me a Greater Society - not another raw deal.

of the masses, radical change is going to help you regardless.

I'm curious but I'm not interested in signing up for substack and I don't know who I Fucking Love Australia is.

"a conga line of bed-wetting Democrats"?

"both spineless wings of it"?

"rotten, gutless....."

DANDY??!

THIS SCREED WAS NOT WRITTEN EVEN BY AN AMERICAN!!

Prove me wrong.

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

n/t

We consider him a savior.

Signed,
From Maine

Maine don't care and they shouldn't

Didn't work.

Now on to victory.

N/T

I love it! ❤️

We have to get Collins out of there!
Planner is a definite improvement!

This substack I fucking love Australia is worth checking out. They've had some other great pieces also.