Graham Platner intends to file the necessary papers to withdraw from the US Senate race on Monday, July 13, – the deadline for him to be removed from the  November ballot itself according to a report on MSNOW this morning.  The unconfirmed scuttlebutt is that he is still trying to influence who replaces him on the November ballot running against MAGA member Susan Collins.  Each candidate is required to submit 500 signatures from across the state – that includes 8 counties across the state.

Three former failed candidates for Governor of the state were mentioned as indicating interest in running for the US Senate slot.  They are:  Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine CDC Director Dr. N. Shah and former Maine State Legislature Troy Jackson.

Jackson, a logger from Jackman, appeared briefly on the segment this morning.  When asked by the anchor why he supported the Platner campaign for so long, Jackson said Platner assured him that there was nothing in his background to hurt his campaign.  “I think I was lied to” by Platner, Jackson said.  However,  Platner has said that he is leaving the race because of party establishment politics rather than allegations of sexual assalt by former girlfriends.

Whlle Dr. Nirav Shah, a doctor and an attorney, has said in televsion interviews that he would not accept an endorsement from Platner, he wants his supporters in the upcoming US Senate race.  What about all the research and work that the Platner campaign did on the MAGA member Collins Senate race?  Would Dr. Shah accept that work or reject it?

Despite an inquiry to the Platner headquarters about his filing intentions, there has been no response from it.