Point of View # 233
Graham Platner
Under federal law an individual can donate $3,500 to a candidate’s primary campaign and $3,500 to the general election.
Under federal law an individual can donate $3,500 to a candidate’s primary campaign and $3,500 to the general election.
After this weekend's county mini-conventions it looks like Jackson is a shoo-in for the eventual nomination, and while that development could be a further example of the impacts of what you refer to as a "national organization," it seems to me more likely a reflection of the popularity of Platner's politics throughout the state.
In updated figures from the FEC (through 6/30) Platner raised $21,000,919.56,, over 98% of which came from individual donors. The campaign did get $334,559.40 from committee contributions (what you refer to as "behind the scene funding), but that was only 1.6% of the money raised, and it came mostly from labor union donations.
I voted for Nirav Shah's slate of delegates at the Cumberland County convention on Saturday, but according to the Bangor Daily News, out of 1311 delegate candidates, Jackson won 148 out of 149. That's quite a landslide, which he repeated throughout all the county conventions, leading to a total of 456 delegates out of 500. Maine Democrats see unwilling to give up on the anti-oligarchic politics introduced by the Platner campaign. Let's hope that results in defeat of Susan Collins in November.
Really well organized, written and informative article, Heath. Rekindled so many “if only” thoughts and feelings.