With votes still being counted in Maine on early Wednesday morning, Platner looked to be winning just shy of three-quarters of the Democratic primary ballots. The strong showing marks a stunning political journey for the oysterman despite his many scandals \u2014 and it\u2019s likely to quell murmurs from national Democrats that he could be pushed to withdraw from the race and replaced by another candidate.<\/p>\n

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had recruited Gov. Janet Mills<\/a> for the must-win Senate race \u2014 only to watch her drop out in April<\/a> after trailing Platner in polls and fundraising \u2014 expressed confidence in the oysterman\u2019s candidacy Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Still, he wasn\u2019t exactly effusive and focused most of his attention on defeating Collins.<\/p>\n

\u201cSusan Collins has never been more vulnerable after she voted with Trump 96 percent of the time, confirmed his far-right judicial nominees, and took millions from special interests while voting to rip health care away from Mainers,\u201d Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. \u201cIn November, Maine voters will elect Graham Platner, and we will win a Senate majority.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senate Majority PAC, the super PAC aligned with Democratic leadership, similarly sought to draw contrast between Platner and Collins.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe difference between the two couldn’t be plainer: Platner’s agenda supports working people and families, while Collins upholds Washington’s status quo,\u201d spokesperson Lauren French said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Even avowedly centrist Democrats focused on the importance of defeating Collins and winning back Senate control \u2014 though they continued to hint their concerns that Platner could blow it for them.<\/p>\n

“This is a must-win seat,” said Lanae Erickson, senior vice president at Third Way. “Susan Collins has done nothing more than carry water for Trump. If we fail to beat her this year, that\u2019s an own goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Platner\u2019s resounding win might quiet some of his Democratic dissenters, but he\u2019ll still have to hold together a broad coalition to defeat Collins and shore up Democratic and independent voters \u2014 a group the Republican senator has long overperformed with \u2014 who may remain skeptical of his candidacy<\/a> in light of his many controversies. And the same Democrats who have been worried about his candidacy remain concerned that more hits might be coming about his past.<\/p>\n

Republicans didn\u2019t waste time unloading on Platner and his long list of scandals in a preview of what\u2019s to come for the next five months.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlatner is easily the most toxic candidate of the cycle and the fact that Democrats have embraced him in service of a radical socialist agenda has placed the final nail in the coffin of their chances to win Maine in November,\u201d Republican National Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new digital ad<\/a> contrasting Collins and Platner that highlights his tattoo and profile on the messaging app Kik, while the Senate Leadership Fund launched a website running through much of the opposition research about him.<\/p>\n

Republican groups, led by the SLF and the pro-Collins Pine Tree Results PAC, have already booked nearly $70 million in TV ad time in Maine from now through the general election, according to data from AdImpact, which tracks political advertising. Democrat groups have $26 million booked so far.<\/p>\n