WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) released the following statement after Chuck Schumer’s self-described “best candidate to retire Susan Collins” dropped out of the Maine Democrat Senate primary.
“Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats just coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine. Susan Collins has always put in the work for her constituents and delivered. Washington Democrats always fall short in Maine and will again, because they just nominated a dishonest radical,” said NRSC Chairman Tim Scott.
Chuck Schumer’s recruitment victory lap for Janet Mills didn’t age well…
Chuck Schumer during a press conference: “We think that Janet Mills is the best candidate to retire Susan Collins…”
Washington Post: “Operatives close to Schumer have told people in recent months that they believe Platner can’t defeat Collins in a general election, and remain wary of the plethora of deleted internet comments that include insulting police and rural Mainers, insensitive comments about Black people not tipping and more.”
The New York Times: “Ms. Mills, who is term-limited, had been heavily recruited for months by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York… who was eager to find a proven winner to take on Ms. Collins.”
Boston Globe: “For national Democrats, chiefly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Mills’s entry represents a recruiting victory in a state they must win if they are to get meaningfully closer to recapturing control of the Senate.”
AP: “Mills was the top choice of national Democrats who have long tried to unseat Collins… her decision is viewed as a recruiting win for Democrats…”
NPR: “[Platner] drew large crowds to his circuit of town halls, but some party leaders like Schumer have argued that Mills is the better bet to beat Collins…”
Punchbowl’s Anna Palmer during The Daily Punch podcast: “This is a huge get for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is on a recruiting tear…”
POLITICO: “Chuck Schumer gets his preferred candidate, Janet Mills, in crowded Maine Senate race”
Washington Post: “Mills, seen as a major recruit for Senate Democratic leaders, launched her campaign on Tuesday…”
New York Post: “Schumer (D-NY) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) are backing Mills, whom they view as the safer bet to take on incumbent Collins (R-Maine).”
MS Now: “But that’s not enough for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who successfully worked behind the scenes to push term-limited Maine Gov. Janet Mills, 77, to join the race. He has since endorsed her and has greased the wheels to help with fundraising.”
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