David Axelrod, a veteran Democratic strategist, took aim at Graham Platner on Wednesday, accusing the Maine Senate candidate of mimicking President Trump's tactics in his campaign suspension announcement. In a sharp post on X, Axelrod wrote that Platner's 11-minute video was a textbook example of denial and deflection, refusing to take responsibility for the scandals that derailed his bid.
“In the end, Platner chose as his closing act a page right out of @realDonaldTrump’s tawdry playbook. Deny. Deflect. Refuse responsibility,” Axelrod said. “Play the martyr; slime your accusers. Platner built an admirable movement. But there was nothing admirable about the way he said goodbye.”
Platner, who was running to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins, ended his campaign after facing a series of damaging allegations. Two ex-girlfriends accused him of rape, and past Reddit posts surfaced that were widely condemned as racist and homophobic. Additionally, a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi Totenkopf drew fierce criticism.
In his exit video, Platner largely blamed the Democratic establishment for the timing of the revelations, suggesting they were strategically released to force him off the ballot before the July 13 nomination deadline. “There is a reason this is happening now,” he said. “This was the last week to try to get me off of the ballot, and that’s why this is occurring.”
He went further, accusing party leaders of preferring Collins’s reelection over his candidacy. “The Democratic establishment would rather see Susan Collins win than have me be the next senator from Maine,” Platner claimed, echoing a sentiment that has fueled internal party tensions.
The Maine Democratic Party has pushed back against those accusations. Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson released a statement on X, saying, “While the Platner campaign remains focused on distracting from the job of defeating Susan Collins in November with false accusations against us, the Maine Democratic Party remains hyper focused on developing a representative, transparent and inclusive process to select a new nominee.”
Some of Platner’s former staffers have publicly aired grievances, alleging they were shut out of discussions about a replacement. Murphy-Anderson acknowledged the frustration but stressed the party’s commitment to an open process. “We are so thankful for his supporters and all of their efforts to defeat Susan Collins – they are a vital part of our Party and deserve to participate in an open process to select Platner’s replacement,” she added.
The scramble to find a new candidate has already begun. State Representative Geiger has said Platner urged her to take his place on the ballot, as reported in her account of the conversation. Meanwhile, multiple Democrats have entered the race, as detailed in coverage of the crowded field. Senate President Troy Jackson also launched a bid, as noted in reports on his entry.
Axelrod’s critique underscores the broader political fallout from Platner’s collapse, with many in the party now focused on uniting behind a viable challenger to Collins. The episode has also reignited debates about candidate vetting and the influence of online scandals in modern campaigns.
