Platner’s exit from Maine’s Senate race leaves Democrats in a deep financial hole

kAm|2:?6 s6>@4C2ED 92G6 A=6?EJ @7 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE H9@ H:== C6A=246 $6?2E6 ?@>:?66 vC292> !=2E?6C @? E96 32==@E] qFE @?6 E9:?8 :D 4=62C — 9:D DF446DD@C H:== DE2CE 7C@> 2 D6G6C6 7:?2?4:2= 5:D25G2?E286[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8^Qm~A6?$64C6EDk^2m C6A@CED]k^Am

kAm!=2E?6C’D H:E95C2H2= 2>:5 2 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E 2==682E:@? 92D EC:886C65 2 D4C2>3=6 @G6C H9@ H:== C6A=246 9:> 2?5 6IA@D65 2 566A6C AC@3=6> — 2 7:?2?4:2= 4C2E6C =67E 369:?5 :? 2 A:G@E2= C246 s6>@4C2ED G:6H 2D 46?EC2= E@ E96:C 9@A6D @7 C682:?:?8 4@?EC@= @7 E96 492>36C]k^Am

kAmq67@C6 9:D A@AF=:DE 42>A2:8? F?C2G6=65[ E96 c`\J62C\@=5 4@>32E G6E6C2? 2?5 @JDE6C>2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8^?6HD^a_ae^_e^56DA:E6\2?E:\3:==:@?2:C6\E96>6\A=2E?6CD\D>2==\5@==2C\42>A2:8?\5C2HD\D>2==\4964<D\7C@>\3:==:@?2:C6\5@?@CDQmC2:D65 S`e]b >:==:@?k^2m E9C@F89 |2J a_ 2?5 96=5 ?62C=J Sa]a >:==:@? :? 42D9 @? 92?5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 7:=:?8D 9:D 42>A2:8? DF3>:EE65 E@ E96 u656C2= t=64E:@? r@>>:DD:@? 367@C6 E96 yF?6 h AC:>2CJ] (9:=6 E92E 42D9 E@E2= 72==D H6== D9@CE @7 E96 S`_ >:==:@? 32?<65 3J #6AF3=:42? :?4F>36?E $FD2? r@==:?D — H9@ :? a_a_ <6AE 96C D62E 6G6? E9@F89 s6>@4C2E:4 492==6?86C $2C29 v:56@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8^?6HD^a_ae^_e^56DA:E6\2?E:\3:==:@?2:C6\E96>6\A=2E?6CD\D>2==\5@==2C\42>A2:8?\5C2HD\D>2==\4964<D\7C@>\3:==:@?2:C6\5@?@CDRiOiE6IEl@FEC2:D65Ta_3JTa_>@C6Ta_E92?Ta_TaccdTa_>:==:@?Qm@FEC2:D65 96C 3J >@C6 E92? Scd >:==:@?k^2m — :E ?6G6CE96=6DD 5H2C7D 6G6CJ A@E6?E:2= !=2E?6C DF446DD@C]k^Am

kAm$E2E6 A2CEJ @77:4:2=D D2:5 E96J H:== k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^|2:?6s6>D^DE2EFD^a_fchhhdgcgf`ahb_a_nDla_Qm9@=5 2 ?@>:?2E:?8 4@?G6?E:@?k^2m E@ D6=64E 2 ?6H ?@>:?66[ H:E9 56E2:=D @? E96 E:>6=:?6 2?5 >6492?:4D E@ 36 2??@F?465 =2E6C] &?56C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=68:D=2EFC6]>2:?6]8@G^DE2EFE6D^a`\2^E:E=6a`\pD64bfc\p]9E>=QmDE2E6 =2Hk^2m[ !=2E?6C 72465 2 yF=J `b 5625=:?6 E@ H:E95C2H[ 2?5 E96 A2CEJ 92D F?E:= yF=J af E@ C6A=246 9:>] %96 D4C2>3=6 92D D6E @77 2 H9:C=H:?5 @7 A@=:E:42= 5C2>2 E92E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |2:?6 A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DE |2C< qC6H6C D2JD @3D4FC6D 2 566A6C :DDF6]k^Am

kAm“tG6CJ3@5J’D 7@4FD:?8 @? H9@ E96 C6A=246>6?E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36[ 3FE … 6G6? 36J@?5 E92E[ ?@ @?6’D A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 >@?6J J6E[” qC6H6C E@=5 ~A6?$64C6ED]k^Am

kAm!=2E?6C[ H9@ H@? E96 AC:>2CJ 56DA:E6 2 D6C:6D @7 4@?EC@G6CD:6D[ 72465 8C@H:?8 42==D E@ 6I:E E96 C246 7@==@H:?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A@=:E:4@]4@>^?6HD^a_ae^_f^_e^8C292>\A=2E?6C\D6IF2=\2DD2F=E\2==682E:@?\__hgffbfQmyF=J e !@=:E:4@ C6A@CEk^2m E92E 2 H@>2? 96 7@C>6C=J 52E65 244FD65 9:> @7 D6IF2==J 2DD2F=E:?8 96C :? a_a`] !=2E?6C 92D 56?:65 E96 2==682E:@?[ 2?5 5:5 D@ 282:? :? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^8C292>7@C>2:?6^DE2EFD^a_fd__heffchd_dgegfnDla_Qm``\>:?FE6 G:56@k^2m A@DE65 yF=J g :? H9:49 96 2??@F?465 E96 DFDA6?D:@? @7 9:D 42>A2:8? H:E9 E96 :?E6?E:@? @7 H:E95C2H:?8 7C@> E96 C246] (:E9 E96 5625=:?6 =@@>:?8[ 96 D2:5 E96 244FD2E:@? H6:8965 @? 9:> 2?5 9:D 42>A2:8?]k^Am

kAmuC@> 2 7:?2?4:2= DE2?5A@:?E[ >@DE @7 !=2E?6C’D A@E6?E:2= C6A=246>6?ED H:== 67764E:G6=J 36 DE2CE:?8 7C@> D4C2E49]k^Am

kAmv@G] y2?6E |:==D — H9@D6 AC@7:=6 2D 2 BF:?E6DD6?E:2= 6DE23=:D9>6?E 42?5:52E6 D92CA=J 4@?EC2DED H:E9 E96 A@AF=:DE 2AA62= !=2E?6C AC6G:@FD=J 6?;@J65 — 2AA62CD E@ 36 :? E96 36DE 7:?2?4:2= A@D:E:@? @7 2== E@ 492==6?86 r@==:?D[ 2?5 D96 92D?’E C2:D65 2 A6??J :? >@C6 E92? EH@ >@?E9D] p7E6C C646:G:?8 DFAA@CE 7C@> $6?2E6 |:?@C:EJ {6256C r9F4< $49F>6C Ws\}]*]X[ D96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>2:?6>@C?:?8DE2C]4@>^a_ae^_c^b_^8@G\>:==D\6?5D\42>A2:8?\7@C\F\D\D6?2E6^QmDFDA6?565 96C 42>A2:8?k^2m pAC:= b_ 2>:5 7F?5C2:D:?8 4@?46C?D — 3FE C6>:?565 G@E6CD 367@C6 E96 AC:>2CJ E92E D96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ae^_e^_`^A@=:E:4D^>2:?6\D6?2E6\;2?6E\>:==D\8C292>\A=2E?6CQmC6>2:?65 @? E96 32==@Ek^2m 2D 4@?EC@G6CDJ 2C@F?5 !=2E?6C 8C6H] w6C C@F89=J Sf`f[___ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^52E2^42?5:52E6^$e|t__c_f^Qm42D9\@?\92?5 E@E2=k^2m :D 23@FE @?6\E9:C5 @7 !=2E?6C’D — 2?5 `b E:>6D D>2==6C E92? r@==:?D’ 32?<C@==]k^Am

kAm|:==D’ a_aa 8F36C?2E@C:2= 42>A2:8? 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>2:?642>A2:8?7:?2?46]4@>^:?56I]9E>=R^6IA=@C6s6E2:=D^bdb_ga^`_^?F==^bg^a_aaQm?@ 42D9 =67Ek^2m] %92E’D ?@E E96 42D6 7@C D6G6C2= @E96C A@E6?E:2= C6A=246>6?ED H9@ C2? 7@C DE2E6 @77:46 62C=:6C E9:D J62C] qFE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^96=A\42?5:52E6D\2?5\4@>>:EE66D^>2<:?8\5:D3FCD6>6?ED^EC2?D76CD^RiOiE6IElpTa_42?5:52E6UR_bhjDTa_2FE9@C:K65Ta_W7656C2=XTa_4@>>:EE66[7@CTa_2Ta_?@?7656C2=Ta_6=64E:@?Ta_42>A2:8?]QmF?56C DE2E6\E@\7656C2= 7F?5C2:D:?8 CF=6Dk^2m[ 2?J >@?6J E96J C2:D65 :? E9@D6 C246D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32==@EA65:2]@C8^%C2?D76CD0@707656C2=07F?5D0E@0DE2E6042>A2:8?0244@F?EDQm:D @77 =:>:EDk^2m :? 2 7656C2= C246]k^Am

kAm%92E >62?D 7@C>6C DE2E6 $6?2E6 !C6D:56?E %C@J y24<D@? 42??@E FD6 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>2:?642>A2:8?7:?2?46]4@>^:?56I]9E>=R^6IA=@C6s6E2:=D^d```hf^`_^?F==^d`^a_aeQmS`c_[___ :? 42D9 @? 92?5k^2m 96 C6A@CE65 62C=:6C E9:D J62C H96? 96 F?DF446DD7F==J C2? E@ C6A=246 |:==D 2D 8@G6C?@C] y24<D@?[ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]32?8@C52:=J?6HD]4@>^a_ad^_g^ad^A@=:E:4D^6=64E:@?D^A@CE=2?5\>2:?6\36C?:6\D2?56CD\7:89E\@=:82C49J\E@FC\EC@J\;24<D@?\8C292>\A=2E?6C\=23@C\52J\C2==J^Qm7@C>6C !=2E?6C 2==Jk^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4BF6CJ]764]8@G^A57^a`d^a_ae_f_fhgfcffaa`d^a_ae_f_fhgfcffaa`d]A57Qm7:=65 A2A6CH@C< H:E9 E96 utrk^2m yF=J f E@ =2F?49 2? 6IA=@C2E@CJ 4@>>:EE66 7@C 2 $6?2E6 CF?[ E96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^%C@Jy24<D@?a_f^DE2EFD^a_fd_a_ghhbhfahaabfnDla_Qm=2F?4965 9:D 42>A2:8?k^2m H:E9:? >:?FE6D @7 !=2E?6C’D 2??@F?46>6?E]k^Am

kAm$:>:=2C=J[ |2:?6 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 $96??2 q6==@HD >2J ?@E E@F49 E96 Sk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>2:?642>A2:8?7:?2?46]4@>^:?56I]9E>=R^6IA=@C6s6E2:=D^d_fcfb^`_^?F==^d`^a_aeQmc`h[___ :? 96C 8F36C?2E@C:2= 42>A2:8?’D 32?< 244@F?Ek^2m] q6==@HD — E96 DE2E6’D s6>@4C2E:4 ?@>:?66 7@C $6?2E6 :? a_`c[ H96? D96 =@DE E@ r@==:?D — 6?565 E92E 42>A2:8? H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^52E2^42?5:52E6^$c|t___f`^Qm;FDE F?56C S`g[___k^2m :? 42D9 @? 92?5] w6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^52E2^4@>>:EE66^r__dd_cbc^n4J4=6la_`cQm$6?2E6 42>A2:8? C6>2:?D 24E:G6k^2m[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 utr[ 3FE 2D @7 yF=J h D96 925 ?@E 2??@F?465 96C A=2?D]k^Am

kAmp?5 }:C2G $929[ E96 7@C>6C 5:C64E@C @7 E96 DE2E6’D r6?E6C 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= U2>Aj !C6G6?E:@? H9@ 7:?:D965 D64@?5 :? E96 AC:>2CJ 7@C 8@G6C?@C[ D2:5 2?J@?6 D66<:?8 E96 $6?2E6 ?@>:?2E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^?:C2G0>2:?6^DE2EFD^a_fcd`ahbcegcg``e`g^A9@E@^`QmD9@F=5 28C66 E@ 2E =62DE @?6 E6=6G:D65 5632E6k^2m 2?5 >F=E:A=6 E@H? 92==D 2?5 4@>>:EE65 E@ 5@ AC64:D6=J E92E “:7 x CF?]” qFE 96 42?’E FD6 E96 Safd[___ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>2:?642>A2:8?7:?2?46]4@>^:?56I]9E>=R^6IA=@C6s6E2:=D^ddchca^`_^?F==^d`^a_aeQm9:D 8F36C?2E@C:2= 42>A2:8? 32?<65k^2m] pD @7 yF=J h[ $929 925 ?@ AC6D6?46 @? E96 utr H63D:E6]k^Am

kAm“(9@6G6C :E :D 8@:?8 E@ 36[ E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 D:8?:7:42?E=J 369:?5 $FD2? r@==:?D[ 2?5 2=>@DE 46CE2:?=J[ E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 2E 2 D:8?:7:42?E 5:D25G2?E286 E@ r@==:?D E9C@F89@FE E96 6?E:C6EJ @7 E96 C246[” qC6H6C D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96C6 2=D@ :D?’E 2? 62DJ H2J E@ >2<6 FA E92E >F49 7:?2?4:2= 8C@F?5 ;FDE E9C66 >@?E9D 367@C6 t=64E:@? s2J[ qC6H6C D2:5[ ?@E:?8 E92E E9@D6 E:>6 4@?DEC2:?ED >62? 2?J 7F?5C2:D:?8 677@CED H:== 92G6 E@ =62? 962G:=J @? 6DE23=:D965 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 A2DE 5@?@CD 2?5 A2CEJ\2=:8?65 8C@FAD]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D C62==J ?@ 82>6 A=2? 7@C E9:D[ 3642FD6 :E’D <:?5 @7 F?AC64656?E65 E@ 2 46CE2:? 568C66[” qC6H6C D2:5]k^Am

kAm~?6 @AE:@? E92E’D AC@323=J @77 E96 E23=6i 2D<:?8 !=2E?6C E@ D6?5 @G6C E96 42D9 9:D 42>A2:8? 92D :? E96 32?<]k^Am

kAmw:D 6I:E =62G6D 9:> H:E9 D6G6C2= @AE:@?D 7@C 9:D H2C 496DE] ~A6?$64C6ED C624965 @FE E@ E96 42>A2:8? 2D<:?8 23@FE :ED A=2?D 7@C E9@D6 7F?5D 3FE 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C646:G6 2 C6DA@?D6]k^Am

kAm&?56C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^FA52E6D^H:?5:?8\5@H?\J@FC\7656C2=\42>A2:8?^RiOiE6IEl*6D]Ta_pTa_42?5:52E6[bXTarTa_2DTa_2AAC@AC:2E6]Qmutr CF=6Dk^2m[ 42?5:52E6D H9@ 2446AE AC6\AC:>2CJ 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 7@C E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? 3FE 5@ ?@E A2CE:4:A2E6 :? :E 92G6 e_ 52JD E@ C6EFC? @C C656D:8?2E6 2?J 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E96J C646:G65 62C>2C<65 7@C E96 86?6C2=] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^52E2^C646:AED^n52E20EJA6lAC@46DD65U2>Aj4@>>:EE660:5lr__h`ecbfU2>AjEH@0J62C0EC2?D24E:@?0A6C:@5la_aeU2>Aj=:?60?F>36Club\``pxQmutr C64@C5D D9@Hk^2m E92E H9:=6 !=2E?6C C646:G65 C@F89=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^52E2^4@>>:EE66^r__h`ecbf^QmSe]c >:==:@?k^2m :? :E6>:K65 :?5:G:5F2= 4@?EC:3FE:@?D[ @?=J 23@FE Sdgf[___ @7 E92E E@E2= H2D 56D:8?2E65 7@C E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?] w@H6G6C[ >@DE @7 !=2E?6C’D 7F?5C2:D:?8 42>6 :? E96 7@C> @7 F?:E6>:K65 :?5:G:5F2= 4@?EC:3FE:@?D — E9@D6 D>2==\5@==2C 5@?2E:@?D F?56C Sa__ — 2?5 utr C64@C5D 5@ ?@E AF3=:4=J 3C62< E9@D6 5@H? 3J 6=64E:@?]k^Am

kAmw6 >2J A2J E96 42>A2:8?’D 3:==D[ 5@?2E6 E96 C6>2:?:?8 7F?5D E@ 492C:EJ[ D2G6 E96> 7@C 2 7FEFC6 3:5 7@C @77:46 @C 4@?EC:3FE6 E96> E@ 2 DE2E6 @C =@42= 42?5:52E6 :? 244@C52?46 H:E9 DE2E6 =2H] qFE 96 :D?’E 2==@H65 E@ D:>A=J 92?5 2== @7 :E @G6C E@ 9:D DF446DD@Ci u656C2= =2H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]764]8@G^96=A\42?5:52E6D\2?5\4@>>:EE66D^>2<:?8\5:D3FCD6>6?ED^>2<:?8\4@?EC:3FE:@?D\@E96C\7656C2=\2?5\?@?7656C2=\42?5:52E6D^Qm42AD 42?5:52E6\E@\42?5:52E6 EC2?D76CDk^2m 2E Sa[___]k^Am

kAm*6E 2 H66<\@=5 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 564:D:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8^?6HD^a_ae^_f^9@H\@?6\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\CF=:?8\4@F=5\DFA6C492C86\;@:?E\7F?5C2:D:?8\4@>>:EE66D^QmAC@G:56D 2 C@25 >2Ak^2m E@ 2 A@DD:3=6 H@C<2C@F?5i x? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DFAC6>64@FCE]8@G^@A:?:@?D^adA57^ac\ea`09b`d]A57Qm}2E:@?2= #6AF3=:42? $6?2E@C:2= r@>>:EE66 G] utrk^2m[ E96 4@FCE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^DFAC6>6\4@FCE\42>A2:8?\7:?2?46\A2CEJ\DA6?5:?8\@9:@\h`6ch66``a`hf26`a`_2h2372cehge65QmDECF4< 5@H? =:>:EDk^2m @? 9@H >F49 A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D 42? DA6?5 :? 4@@C5:?2E:@? H:E9 42?5:52E6D] q642FD6 E96 =2H 2==@HD 42?5:52E6D — 6G6? E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 H:E95C2H? – E@ EC2?D76C F?=:>:E65 2>@F?ED E@ 2?J ?2E:@?2=[ DE2E6 @C =@42= A2CEJ 4@>>:EE66[ :E :D E96@C6E:42==J A@DD:3=6 E92E !=2E?6C 4@F=5 D6?5 H92E’D =67E @7 9:D 42D9 E@ 2 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ 6?E:EJ[ H9:49 4@F=5 E96? 4@@C5:?2E6 2 DA6?5:?8 DEC2E68J H:E9 E96 49@D6? 42?5:52E6 — H9@6G6C :E H:?5D FA 36:?8]k^Am

kAm%96? 282:?[ H:E9 E96 DE2E6 A2CEJ 244FD:?8 !=2E?6C’D E62> @7 ECJ:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_ae^_f^_g^?I\D`\dggdff_^8C292>\A=2E?6C\>2:?6\56>@4C2EDQmAFE “E96:C E9F>3 @? E96 D42=6k^2m” :? E96 AC@46DD @7 A:4<:?8 9:D C6A=246>6?E[ :E :D 72:C E@ H@?56C H96E96C DF49 2 EC2?D76C — 2?5 2?J A@E6?E:2= :?7=F6?46 E92E >2J 244@>A2?J :E — H@F=5 36 H6=4@>65 @C 2446AE65] ~A6?$64C6ED C624965 @FE E@ A2CEJ @77:4:2=D 7@C 4@>>6?E 3FE 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C646:G6 2 C6DA@?D6]k^Am

kAm“x7 96 42? 86E E96 >@?6J E@ E96 s}r[ E96? E96J 42? 46CE2:?=J DA6?5 :E :? 4@@C5:?2E:@? H:E9 H9@6G6C E96 42?5:52E6 :D[” qC6H6C D2:5] “%96C6’D ?@ 5@F3E 23@FE E92E[ C:89En %96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D >256 E92E A2CE 4=62C]”k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8^?6HD^a_ae^_f^A=2E?6CD\6I:E\7C@>\>2:?6D\D6?2E6\C246\=62G6D\56>@4C2ED\:?\2\566A\7:?2?4:2=\9@=6Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@A6?D64C6ED]@C8Qmk6>m~A6?$64C6EDk^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am