Alleged rapist Graham Platner still has plenty of backers in Maine who claim Dem establishment did him dirty
WATERVILLE, Maine — Graham Platner supporters are still pining for the disgraced pol just days before the US Senate election, concerned their backup choice lacks the pizzazz needed to mobilize the base. Almost four months after Platner was forced out of his Senate race due to a rape accusation, local Democrats at a rally for his replacement, Troy Jackson, admitted they wished Platner were still on the ticket and regretted how his political career was cut short.“The establishment did not want him to be out there mobilizing people who had never voted before, just for change,” former Waterville Mayor Karen Heck lamented to The Post about Platner at a Jackson town hall event on Monday“It’s another example of innuendo taking somebody down who was popular,” she added.“Not to say you don’t believe women, but there were circumstances around that allegation that were never investigated … the prosecutor should actually believe women and bring those cases forward.”Many at Jackson’s rally hope Platner runs again, as they miss the energy and massive crowds the scandal magnet ginned up compared to Jackson’s much milder presence, even as they are careful not to be too dismissive of the accusations against him.Heck contended that the timing of the story on Jenny Racicot’s rape accusations against Platner just before the deadline for him to drop out was very suspicious and questioned why he isn’t being prosecuted if the allegations are credible.When asked how she feels about Jackson as Platner’s replacement, Heck hesitated and reluctantly replied, “I’m going to vote for him.” Jackson later gave her a shoutout during his town hall, hinting that they knew each other.Platner had a meteoric rise in Democratic politics and easily trounced establishment pick, former Gov.
Janet Mills, in the Democratic primary.Billing himself as a gritty veteran and oyster farmer who will fight for the little guy, Platner was an early favorite to beat longtime Sen.
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