MS NOW host Catherine Rampell sharply criticized Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner's response to suspending his campaign in Maine, accusing him of deflecting responsibility and blaming external forces.
Platner announced his withdrawal from the race on Wednesday night, following a series of public scandals, most notably a rape allegation from a former girlfriend. In a video message, Platner stated he was not stepping down due to the allegations themselves, but rather due to "structures that are being taken away from us by those in power."
Rampell, however, characterized Platner's remarks as "finger-pointing and blame" rather than an acceptance of accountability. She noted that Platner's video message attributed his campaign's downfall to the "corporate media" and "the political establishment," suggesting these entities prevented his movement from succeeding.
"Instead blaming, let's see, corporate media, the political establishment — lots of hate for the political establishment, saying that. ‘We banded together. We did it the way we were told we were supposed to make change, and we won. And now they are not going to let us have it,’" Rampell stated.
Platner's campaign, which had secured a landslide victory in the June 9 Democratic Senate primary, was increasingly dogged by controversy. Prior to his withdrawal, a report detailed allegations from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, who claimed Platner had raped her. Platner has denied these accusations, labeling them "false."
Other allegations against Platner included claims from ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield that he engaged in physical misconduct and removed condoms during intimacy. The campaign had called Fifield's allegations "categorically false and politically motivated." Additional past issues included controversial online comments, a tattoo perceived by some as a Nazi symbol, and accusations of exchanging sexually explicit messages with multiple women while married.
Rampell suggested that Platner's narrative of being targeted by powerful forces ignored the cumulative effect of the scandals. "So, lots of allegations that he was being taken out by nefarious forces that are forcing him to suspend his campaign rather than the drip, drip, drip of scandal after scandal that has dogged his campaign and that have littered the last few months with red flags," she said.
Platner's decision came just one month after his primary victory and five days before a critical deadline for Democrats to select a replacement nominee for the general election. Allies, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had called for Platner to step aside as the allegations surfaced.