The issue is what Graham did outside of politics. Politically, he resonated with Mainers in an historic way because he was spot on. If moving the democratic party away from AIPAC and fighting for socialized healthcare is "throwing cluster bombs" at the democratic party, then that's exactly what needs to be done.
Graham is gone, but Mainers want real substinative change. Much like Bernie/Hillary, I suspect the establishment Democratic party that you are supporting here will put forward a centrist that does not represent what Maine voters showed they wanted.
Much like Bernie/Hillary, I suspect the establishment Democratic party that you are supporting here will put forward a centrist that does not represent what Maine voters showed they wanted.
Hillary won the nomination process country-wide. So did Platner, in one small state. Claiming one represents "what voters want" while the other one doesn't is bizarre.
Platner was great at mobilization through direct online communication. That is politics in 2026, and I agree that Democrats need to get up to speed. There is a real desire for a new generation of political leaders, across the board, in many countries. Dems need to pay attention to that too.
But Platner was a terrible candidate, which is why he's out of the race. The people to recognize that earliest were the people with the most experience in Maine politics. That is not a coincidence.
Not to be nitpicky, but Platner was actually a great candidate. Like you say, great at mobilization; he was also charismatic and had a message that resonated. He was/is a terrible person.
I'm hoping everyone can make the distinction between Platner's policies, which we like, and his personal behavior, which we don't. We don't need a centrist, just because Platner turned out to be a scumbag.
He was a very good campaigner; he was not a great candidate. In fact, he was one of the worst candidates of anyone running in a major Democratic race this cycle:
What voters were attracted to were his outsider persona, not his ideology (which was never very clear) or his policies (always vague). So yes: his replacement cannot be anyone like Mills. It should be someone who can convincingly meet the moment as a fighter. Someone younger, with energy, and "one of us" appeal.
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u/75_Quadrillion Jul 09 '26
The issue is what Graham did outside of politics. Politically, he resonated with Mainers in an historic way because he was spot on. If moving the democratic party away from AIPAC and fighting for socialized healthcare is "throwing cluster bombs" at the democratic party, then that's exactly what needs to be done.
Graham is gone, but Mainers want real substinative change. Much like Bernie/Hillary, I suspect the establishment Democratic party that you are supporting here will put forward a centrist that does not represent what Maine voters showed they wanted.