General Discussion

Platner has campaigned all over Maine, nonstop. He has had town halls and reached out to voters.

So, he has an established credibility in the electorate.

The leadership in the Senate had to wring Mills' arm to get in, so she got in pretty late when opinions were already ossifying. She was perceived as the strongest candidate because she has a record, she has no scandals, she has unlimited name recognition.

The dynamic set up was an insurgent v. establishment politician, not progressive v. moderate.

As such, as Mills underperformed, there was just not enough oxygen for the other progressive - Costello - to make a strong case for himself. He was boxed out by the framing of the race.

Platner, flawed as he is, as gone to all of Maine and articulated this. Which is why he is going to win.

Politics is local. And it isn't theoretical.

Had leadership gotten behind Costello, he might've been able to put together a campaign. But he didn't, so he's polling 3%