Democrats were counting on flipping the Senate this year. If they flip the Senate, they can stall President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, potentially even one or two Supreme Court picks. And a key state in that strategy is Maine. Or… was anyway. With Graham Platner as the presumptive nominee, Democrats are finally realizing that the dream isn’t likely to pan out. And yet, on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had to feign confidence. And failed miserably.
Schumer gathered other Senate Democrats behind closed doors on Tuesday to meet with Platner. I can only imagine how cold the air was during and after the meeting. Schumer recruited Gov. Janet Mills to run for the seat, believing she gave Democrats a better shot at unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner also is no fan of Schumer, and has called for him to step down as the Democrat leader in the Senate.
Schumer stepped up to a microphone following the meeting, and it was a painfully awkward moment.
"I met with Graham Platner today. We're going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate," he said.
It was a hollow statement. It was obvious that he wasn’t happy or confident. Nor should he be. And now, when it’s pretty much too late, Democrats are starting to realize that Schumer was right that Mills was the safer bet. Platner has spent the past week under a harsh spotlight after reports surfaced that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women who were not his wife on a chat platform known for being used by predators to target young kids. And then there’s the whole Nazi tattoo thing; the racist, homophobic, misogynistic internet posts; and, of course, the portapotty fetish.
And that’s just what’s come out so far. More is coming. Democrats know this.
Reporters asked Schumer five separate questions about Platner: about the controversies, about whether Schumer felt satisfied with Platner's explanations, and about whether former primary rival Gov. Janet Mills should jump back into the race. Each question got the same answer. "We're going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate," Schumer said, same line, every time.
Trust me, folks… he’s not happy.
Let's be honest here. Schumer is in a no-win situation, and everyone in Washington sees it. Democrats have to project unity behind Platner because he's their presumptive nominee. Break ranks now, and Schumer gives the hard left another reason to come after him. Fall in line, and he spends the next several months backing a candidate who once called for his ouster. The endorsement he delivered carried neither enthusiasm nor conviction.
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Interestingly enough, Maine law gives Democrats a narrow window to act if they decide to ditch Platner. Platner can withdraw from the general election before July 13, even after winning the June 9 primary, and the party would then have until July 27 to nominate a replacement. Schumer declined to say whether Tuesday's meeting involved any discussion of bringing Mills back in. But, I bet he’s thinking about it.
Democrats need to flip the Maine seat to have any realistic shot at reclaiming the Senate majority. They know it. And right now, the man standing between them and that goal carries a Nazi tattoo on his chest, a sexting scandal, horrific internet posts, and a potential avalanche of new revelations waiting in the wings.
Call me crazy, but I think Democrats are seeing their hopes of winning the majority slip away.
