How will Democrats fight Trump after dumping their candidate Graham Platner in Maine?

**Justin** (0:00)
Hello, it's Justin, and you're about to hear Americast. We are delighted to have you with us, and if you enjoy what you hear, please do consider subscribing to the podcast. That way you'll never miss an episode. Now on with today.

**Anthony Zurcher** (0:12)
Okay, today we are talking about the biggest political story in the United States right now, and how Democrats are fighting, scrambling to try to get one of their Senate nominees to step down. The stakes are high because the Senate is up for grabs right now, Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats are hoping to rest back by winning over four seats, and integral to that goal is the state of Maine. Maine is at the central focus right now because the candidate, Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate nominee, has been beset by allegations of rape and sexual assault. Here he is talking about it.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:48)
Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins. Those were the goals when we launched this campaign, and they remain my goals today.

**Anthony Zurcher** (1:10)
So could these allegations cost Democrats this Maine race and control of the entire US Senate? Welcome to Americast.

**SPEAKER_4** (1:22)
Americast from BBC News.

**Justin** (1:24)
You hear that sound?

**Anthony Zurcher** (1:25)
Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money.

**SPEAKER_5** (1:29)
We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it.

**SPEAKER_4** (1:36)
This guy has Trump Derangement Syndrome.

**Anthony Zurcher** (1:39)
I have four words for you.

**SPEAKER_5** (1:42)
Turn the volume up.

**Anthony Zurcher** (1:48)
Hello, it's Anthony in the BBC Bureau in Washington, DC.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (1:52)
And it's Sumi also in the BBC Bureau in Washington, DC.

**Anthony Zurcher** (1:55)
Ah, Sumi, so good to have you back.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (1:57)
It's great to be here and honored to share this amazing podcast studio with you.

**Anthony Zurcher** (2:02)
And we get to talk about American politics and in particular, one of the most important Senate races in this midterm elections coming up in November. This is the one that the Democrats have to win back from Republicans if they want to tip the balance their way.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (2:22)
Yeah, that's right. Probably for some of your international audiences, they're wondering why on earth do we spend so much time talking about the state of Maine? But that's precisely the reason. The Democrats don't just want to win the House of Representatives back in the midterm elections. They want to win back the Senate as well. And if you do the math, Maine is a key part of that equation. And it's a place where you have an incumbent Republican Senate leader, Susan Collins, she's been there for many years.
And she's looking particularly vulnerable this cycle. And because of that, Democrats thought or think that they have a real chance to unseat her. But it all comes down to who would do that.

**Anthony Zurcher** (2:57)
Yeah, Susan Collins has defied political gravity in Maine. Maine has been won by Democrats for decades. And every time her seat comes up, every six years, they put a big target on her thinking that they can knock her off and they haven't been able to do it. But this time they feel it could be different because of the headwinds that Republicans are facing nationwide. Donald Trump is not popular in Maine. Susan Collins has voted with Donald Trump on a lot of key big issues. And the Democrats think they can take advantage of that and win this seat. But the man they nominated in a race that was decided last month, just over a month ago, Graham Platner, a political novice, an oyster man, an ex-Marine. We've talked about him multiple times now on this podcast. He has been bedeviled by personal controversies pretty much since he entered this race about a year ago. But a big one just dropped a couple of days ago. And this one seems like it's going to be different. This one seems like it might actually knock him out of the race and turn over the whole apple cart when it comes to trying to predict who is going to win this. And if Susan Collins could hold onto that seat.

**Sumi Somaskanda** (4:03)
We will talk a bit later in the pod about why Graham Platner is both controversial but also exciting for a lot of Democrats in particular. But you mentioned the new allegations that have emerged, Anthony. One of those women who's come forward is Jenny Rassico. She had previously dated Graham Platner.