Dems Whistle Past Platner Graveyard as CNN's Cornish Pushes Janet Mills Option

Democrats are in full damage-control mode over Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, even as fresh allegations of unsettling behavior toward women continue to swirl. Meanwhile, CNN This Morning host Cornish is pushing an alternative to the politically-wounded Platner. Cornish sounded that theme from her opening words in Friday's Group Chat segment on the Maine race: "The question this morning for Democrats: is it too late to cut bait?"

Or shuck an oyster?

On Wednesday, Platner met with a number of Democratic senators to discuss the situation, and Cornish played clips of a number of them commenting after the meeting. Tina Smith of Minnesota managed to keep a straight face in response to CNN reporter Manu Raju's question as to whether they asked Platner whether there were any more shoes to drop:

"No, we didn't talk about that. The main thing we talked about was, really, what his, why it is that he's been connecting so much with Maine voters." 

Riiight! Forget all those scandals, Graham. Just tell us about how great you are!

Smith's patently implausible denial was flatly contradicted by this report in The Wall Street Journal, "Senators Privately Ask Platner Whether New Allegations Will Emerge":

"Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders asked Platner if any additional allegations would emerge against the embattled Democratic candidate, according to people familiar with the discussion. Platner said there weren’t any."

Speaking of Sanders, in a clip Cornish played of his interview with Kaitlin Collins, Bernie played up Platner's military record:

"This guy served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He went through some very bloody and horrible situations. He has acknowledged that he came back with PTSD."

Bernie Sanders, born-again military fanboy--who knew?

But back to Audie and her theme o' the day: out with Platner, in with Maine Governor Janet Mills. Early in the segment, Cornish noted Mills' recent comments to the Portland Press Herald: "People have the impression that I withdrew or dropped out, but I simply suspended active campaigning. I'm still on the ballot."

Underlined Cornish: "So, there is another option."

Later, when panelist Noel King [like Cornish, an NPR veteran] suggested Democrats' "only option" was to stick with Platner and "keep it going," Cornish pushed back forcefully:

"It's not the only option! The other option is Janet Mills. Come on. It could be!"

 

 

The episode perfectly captures the Democrats' and friendly media's awkward position. They want to embrace Platner's "I was a bad guy who saw the light" redemption story — complete with military service and PTSD — yet can't ignore the fresh baggage threatening a key Senate race against incumbent Susan Collins. 

Hence the public support for Platner mixed with private jitters and not-so-subtle floating of Mills as a Plan B.

Interestingly, both New York Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, uttered the same carefully calculated line, expressing confidence that "We [Democrats] will win Maine." Missing: any mention of Platner. Sounds like they might be on Team Cornish-for-Mills!

Here's the transcript. Click "expand" to read:

CNN This Morning
6/5/26
6:04 am EDT

AUDIE CORNISH: So the question this morning for Democrats: is it too late to cut bait?

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: I'm very optimistic we're gonna win Maine.

MANU RAJU: Did you talk about any of the shoes to drop that could come out in this race? Or, or, or did he try to get ahead on any of that?

TINA SMITH: No, we didn't talk about that. The main thing we talked about was, really, what his, why it is that he's been connecting so much with, with Maine voters. 

PETER WELCH: He's accepting the burden that he's gotta give his explanation of that to Maine voters, and they decide.

KAITLIN COLLINS: Are you worried about anything else coming out about him?

BERNIE SANDERS: I don't know. All I can say is, look, I'm sure he's not a saint. And by the way, let's not forget, he has acknowledged, this guy served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He went through some very bloody and horrible situations. He has acknowledged that he came back with PTSD.

CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Elliot Williams, CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor, Carine Hajjar, Washington Post editorial board member, and Noel King, co-host and editorial director of the "Today, Explained" podcast. Thank you guys for being here.

So one of the things I'm looking at is response, response on the left, response from Democrats. The other thing I'm looking at is, what next? Because this election is going to happen in a few days, and earlier this week, Governor Janet Mills told the Portland Press earlier that, quote, "People have the impression that I withdrew or dropped out, but I simply suspended active campaigning. I'm still on the ballot."

So there is another option. 

. . . 

Does it matter if the problematic part is the story? Meaning, his whole entire spiel has been, "I was a bad guy, I saw the light, and you want more guys like me seeing the light, Democrats." And, you know what I mean? The, the sort of like, I could have been in the Manosphere, but look, I'm here, running as a Democrat. And what do Democrats do with that story that they've been telling?

NOEL KING: Keep it going, I think, is the only option at this point.

CORNISH:  It's not the only option! The other option is Janet Mills. Come on. It could be!