Maine Democratic Senate primary grows increasingly bitter as party vies to unseat Susan Collins in key race
CBSN
A bitter Democratic primary is unfolding in Maine as two candidates battle for the chance to challenge five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, one of the GOP's most vulnerable incumbents in the upcoming midterm elections.
A bitter Democratic primary is unfolding in Maine as two candidates battle for the chance to challenge five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, one of the GOP's most vulnerable incumbents in the upcoming midterm elections.
The race pits a centrist sitting governor, Janet Mills, against a progressive firebrand, Graham Platner, an oyster farmer, military veteran and former private military contractor who has built momentum in recent months. It's also a generational contest, with the 78-year-old Mills pointing to her track record of winning statewide while 41-year-old Platner casts himself as an outsider candidate.
Polling in the race is limited, but some recent surveys show Platner leading Mills among Democratic primary voters. Platner's campaign may also have a financial edge, raising some $7.8 million last year compared to Mills' $2.6 million and Collins' $4.6 million, according to federal filings. Less well-known Democratic candidate David Costello has raised just over $21,000, not including loans.
The race is one of this year's most closely watched Senate contests, a rare opportunity for the party to pick up a seat in the chamber in the midterms. It is sure to draw significant outside spending, given the intense interest in the race and its national stakes.
The high-stakes contest has triggered an escalation in attacks, with the Mills campaign unveiling a negative ad Tuesday that highlights controversial statements allegedly made by Platner on the online forum Reddit.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer, she confirmed Monday. Jacob Rosen, Olivia Rinaldi and Caitlin Huey-Burns contributed to this report.
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