UMVA has learned that a dramatic shift in the American political landscape unfolded in the high-profile primaries in Maine and South Carolina, with progressive leftist Graham Platner, conservative stalwart Donald Trump, and longtime Senator Lindsey Graham emerging as the big winners.
In a stunning upset, Platner, an oyster farmer and military combat veteran, cruised to the Democratic nomination in left-leaning Maine, setting up a critical showdown with moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins that could determine the balance of power in the Senate.
Platner's convincing victory, backed by progressive heavyweights like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, is being hailed as a major win for the left in their intra-party battle with the establishment, demonstrating that voters are hungry for outsiders who can shake up the system.
Despite being battered by controversies, including inflammatory online comments, a now-covered-up tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, and allegations of a history of violent episodes, Platner managed to shrug off the negative attention and connect with Maine voters, who seemed to view his past misdeeds as immaterial to the Senate election.
In a show of support, Platner thanked Maine voters for standing by him, saying "Maine had my back" when hurtful things he said online came to light, and "you have my back" when false accusations were made against him.
Meanwhile, in solidly red South Carolina, Trump-backed Sen. Lindsey Graham won a majority of the vote in the Senate GOP primary, avoiding a runoff against a primary challenger from the right, while the president's endorsed candidate, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, finished on top of a crowded field in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Evette, who repeatedly highlighted Trump's support, now advances to a Republican runoff election in two weeks against longtime South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, and is considered the clear favorite in the general election in the southeastern state.
The president's clout over the GOP was on full display in South Carolina, where his endorsement proved to be a decisive factor in the primaries, with Graham and Evette leveraging Trump's support to secure their spots in the runoff elections.
Graham's campaign and allied political groups spent nearly $20 million to highlight Trump's support, and the president joined Graham and Evette for a primary eve tele-rally, demonstrating the brute force of his endorsement power in GOP primaries.
The results in Maine and South Carolina have sent shockwaves through the American political landscape, with Platner's victory energizing the progressive left and Trump's endorsement power continuing to shape the GOP.
