Potential Platner replacements neck-in-neck with Susan Collins in new Maine Senate poll

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A new poll testing the strength of potential replacements for Graham Platner (D) in the Maine Senate race found three former gubernatorial candidates polling closely with incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

The statewide survey, first reported by NOTUS, tested head-to-head match-ups between Collins and three Democrats: Nirav Shah, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director; Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of State; and Troy Jackson, former state Senate president.

Shah led Collins 47 percent to 46 percent; Bellows tied at 47 percent each; and Jackson, a former Platner ally, trailed Collins by one percentage point, getting 47 percent to her 48 percent.

The poll was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, shortly after Politico published a report detailing a rape accusation against Platner that derailed his campaign.

Support dropped drastically for the populist oyster farmer, according to the survey. Two-thirds of respondents wanted Platner to withdraw from the race entirely, while 72 percent viewed him either somewhat or very unfavorably.

Platner’s campaign also conducted an internal flash poll testing the trio of potential candidates against Collins, according to Politico. The results showed Jackson as the top contender against the GOP senator — 49 percent to 44 percent. Bellows and Shah both essentially tied Collins.

The results come as Democrats scramble to find a viable replacement for Platner, whose scandal-ridden campaign caused him to drop his Senate bid Wednesday night.

Platner, who has denied the sexual assault allegations, exited the race following mounting pressure from even his most prominent Democratic allies to step aside.

Maine Democrats have until July 27 to choose a replacement should Platner file his withdrawal paperwork by 5 p.m. on Monday, per state law.

The poll, which surveyed 988 likely Maine voters, was conducted by Z to A Research and commissioned by a pro-Shah outside group, according to NOTUS.

The poll did not test other Democrats who have stepped into the race or expressed interest, including Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood.

The results of the match-ups were within a 3.1 percentage-point margin of error.

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Nirav Shah

Shenna Bellows

Susan Collins

Troy Jackson

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