{"id":2631145,"date":"2026-07-17T11:50:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-debate-to-replace-platner-reveals-just-how-much-trouble-maine-dems-are-in\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:53:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:53:26","slug":"first-debate-to-replace-platner-reveals-just-how-much-trouble-maine-dems-are-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-debate-to-replace-platner-reveals-just-how-much-trouble-maine-dems-are-in\/","title":{"rendered":"First Debate to Replace Platner Reveals Just How Much Trouble Maine Dems Are In"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffirst-debate-to-replace-platner-reveals-just-how-much-trouble-maine-dems-are-in%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2631145&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This content appears too be a detailed report on a Maine Democratic primary debate amid discussions about a candidate named Graham Platner and others vying to secure a spot on the ballot.The debate included multiple candidates, some of whom had previously run in primaries and gained notable support, while others brought less prominence or controversial views.The first half of the debate was considered painful, with candidates struggling to perform, whereas the second half was viewed as comical. <\/p>\n<p>Highlights include critique of candidate performances,with some candidates like Shenna Bellows and Jordan Wood making controversial or awkward remarks,and others like Nirav Shah presenting unconventional opinions such as opposing the removal of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and claiming money grows on trees. The debate also featured socially charged topics like transgender issues and Medicare for All,with all candidates expressing support for left-leaning policies. <\/p>\n<p>The report underscores Platner\u2019s charisma despite his problematic history and suggests the other candidates lack the political skill to challenge the incumbent, Senator Susan Collins. it portrays a polarized and somewhat chaotic race, emphasizing the Democrats\u2019 challenges in fielding a strong candidate with appealing qualities for the general election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_5)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Hoo boy.<\/p>\n<p>If you missed the first set of debates for the Maine Democrats to decide who they\u2019re going to put on the ballot to replace the disgraced and withdrawn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/platner-part-2-firejumper-running-seat-determine-wins-house-actually-lobbyist-defending-transing-kids-drag-shows-libraries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Graham Platner<\/a> because you had anything better to do with your life, I envy you.<\/p>\n<p>Let me sum up what happened as quickly as possible: The first half was painful. The second half was laughable.<\/p>\n<p>Eight candidates were competing to see who the Maine Democrats pick at a July 25 party convention. The first half included candidates who ran for different races during the primaries this year and lost but got at least 20 percent of the vote, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/07\/16\/politics\/maine-senate-debate-graham-platner-takeaways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a>: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, epidemiologist and public health official Nirav Shah, and Jordan Wood, former chief of staff for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/bon-voyage-alleged-spousal-abuser-dem-katie-porter-announces-done-politics-california-gubernatorial-disaster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ex-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter<\/a> who was <a href=\"https:\/\/mainemorningstar.com\/2026\/06\/19\/matt-dunlap-narrowly-wins-2nd-congressional-district-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">third<\/a> in the close vote for the Democratic nomination in Maine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p>The second part was very politically called \u201can undercard of sorts, with four lesser-known candidates looking to break through in the abbreviated race\u201d by CNN. It included the race\u2019s potential breakthrough candidate to capture the same independent energy that Platner did: Dan Kleban, the Maine Beer Company founder who was squeezed out of the Senate race by Platner and establishment favorite Gov. Janet Mills.<\/p>\n<p>It also included this guy:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">MODERATOR: \u201cWhat qualifications do you have to serve in the U.S. Senate?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maine Democrat Ashley Webb: \u201cI\u2019m a songwriter and I write my own books.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/csMIFkmt4Q\">pic.twitter.com\/csMIFkmt4Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077912498087289214?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>At the very least, Webb generated some interest in the second hour. The first included a bunch of people who mostly agreed with each other on far-left talking points that have become anodyne this election year, delivered in a manner that didn\u2019t even rise to the low bar of performance that word implies.<\/p>\n<p>From CNN:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>None of the candidates in Thursday night\u2019s debate could replicate the political skills that allowed Platner to emerge as a viral sensation, elbow a two-term governor out of the race and poll neck-and-neck with Collins before he ended his campaign after a woman accused him of rape \u2014 allegations he has denied. Shah\u2019s delivery was one-note and Bellows\u2019 was halting. Wood often turned to his notes. Jackson frequently cleared his throat and changed directions mid-sentence.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Bellows, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/maine-gop-state-rep-moves-impeach-secretary-state-shenna-bellows-removing-trump-ballot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tried to get Donald Trump disqualified<\/a> from Maine\u2019s 2024 presidential ballot due to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, is arguably the favorite in this race, and even the moderators were calling her out for non-answer answers:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat Shenna Bellows gets called out by the moderator for giving a non-answer on funding Social Security.<\/p>\n<p>MODERATOR: \u201cYou\u2019ve gone 35 seconds and you didn\u2019t give me any specifics.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/G7HoIk7Kuv\">pic.twitter.com\/G7HoIk7Kuv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077904198742536217?\">July 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>TL;DR: If you know what it\u2019s like to not have money, Shenna Bellows knows how you feel. That means she\u2019ll get the money. Trust her, she\u2019s got the answer \u2014 unlike the thousands of other politicians who have made this empty promise, sometimes with specifics, and failed.<\/p>\n<p>She did brag about trying to disqualify Trump, though. And while this might endear her to Democrats longing for the sugar high of Platnermania, swing voters considering Republican Sen. Susan Collins aren\u2019t going to like this kind of stuff:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat Shenna Bellows \u2013 who is running to be handpicked by the Democrat establishment not Mainers \u2013 brags about interfering with elections and protecting illegals on voter rolls. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zWucrUd88E\">pic.twitter.com\/zWucrUd88E<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077893330550055228?\">July 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Jordan Wood, meanwhile, made the mistake of bringing up his ex-boss, whose career ended in ignominy with a pitiful run at the California governorship amid spouse <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-katie-porter-may-just-released-worst-campaign-ad-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">and staff abuse scandals<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat Jordan Wood says that his former boss Katie Porter is \u201ca household name\u201d for her work in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of households, how is Porter\u2019s husband doing after she dumped a pot of hot potatoes on his head? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BJszuMMGJZ\">pic.twitter.com\/BJszuMMGJZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077908726682427454?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Shah, meanwhile, argued such points as the fact that arresting and deposing narcoterrorist dictator Nicol\u00e1s Maduro of Venezuela actually made America less safe:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat Nirav Shah says no one in the United States is \u201csafer\u201d after President Trump captured indicted narcoterrorist Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n<p>Maduro is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.\u2069 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/a6FxftDgs9\">pic.twitter.com\/a6FxftDgs9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077906266546950254?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He also thinks money grows on trees:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat Senate candidate Nirav Shah says he \u201cdoesn\u2019t buy it\u201d that there\u2019s not enough money in the budget for his policies.<\/p>\n<p>Sounds like something a socialist would say\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jSoUFnMpUk\">pic.twitter.com\/jSoUFnMpUk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077901987547435313?\">July 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Then there was the undercard \u2014 mostly a second-chance for Kleban, but also for a few other local nut jobs like Elizabeth Dickerson, who\u2019s running since she\u2019s \u201cvery interested in climate.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat Elizabeth Dickerson says she is running for Senate because she is \u201cvery interested in climate.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nrl6kPrrKM\">pic.twitter.com\/nrl6kPrrKM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077911371509846218?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>There was Webb, who seemed to be running (you will not be surprised to learn) on transgender issues:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Ashley Webb \u2013 a Democrat contender to replace Graham Platner for U.S. Senate:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt anybody, I just want to use the bathroom\u2026if they want me to use the men\u2019s room I will but I don\u2019t want to be assaulted.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ckiNs08hi9\">pic.twitter.com\/ckiNs08hi9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077913037005099366?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>And then there was David Costello, who reminded us all why we were here by noting that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/total-depravity-mamdani-teams-fixer-raced-maine-protect-accused-rapist-graham-platner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Graham Platner<\/a> allegedly voted for him:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Maine Democrat David Costello brags about accused rapist Graham Platner voting for him for Senate in 2024:<\/p>\n<p>COSTELLO: \u201cGraham actually said he voted for me\u2026I argued then, and certainly Graham agreed, [that] we need to change the system.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wIr4lDQ8tN\">pic.twitter.com\/wIr4lDQ8tN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077919333414510875?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Kleban showed that he had some chops, although the non-answer answer was strong with him, too:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">MODERATOR: What experience do you have in defense and national security?<\/p>\n<p>KLEBAN: President Trump\u2026<\/p>\n<p>MODERATOR: The question was \u201cwhat is your experience?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>KLEBAN: Well I wasn\u2019t in the military <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/glktL0LYZC\">pic.twitter.com\/glktL0LYZC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077920902419800413?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>And then there was this exchange:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">MODERATOR: David Costello said he\u2019s for Medicare for All. Is everybody?<\/p>\n<p>KLEBEN: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>DICKERSON: It\u2019s incredible.<\/p>\n<p>WEBB: I\u2019m actually on Medicare.<\/p>\n<p>MODERATOR: Oh\u2026ok. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yfkqNhXTZg\">pic.twitter.com\/yfkqNhXTZg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2077920305981321292?\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t say.<\/p>\n<p>But that eight-for-eight in terms of Medicare-for-all is a pretty telling statement: For all the stiltedness of the first debate and the inadvertent hilarity of the second, there was across-the-board agreement in terms of far-left talking points. Yes on single-payer health care. Yes on illegal immigration, no on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/man-reportedly-shot-dead-allegedly-trying-run-ice-agents-maine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>. Yes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nepo-baby-nazi-tattooed-dem-senate-candidate-decries-anti-semitism-claims-anti-trans-agenda-cooked-billionaires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on Gaza<\/a>, no on Israel. Yes on whatever the Platner class tells them to do, no on Graham Platner\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is that Platner, for all of his abhorrent behavior, hateful positions, and clear mental health challenges that should have ruled him out as a candidate from the get-go, had some charisma. These people are a melange of striver functionaries and weirdos. Absent some transformation before the July 23 debate hosted by CNN, the Democrats are in deep trouble if these Temu Platners are who they hope to overcome Susan Collins with.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wow. If you missed the Maine Democrats&#8217; first debate to choose a replacement for Graham Platner, I envy you. Here&#8217;s a quick summary:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2631146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-07-17T082649.330.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[35835,49990,32741,65185,82849],"class_list":["post-2631145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-campaign-strategy","tag-electoral-challenges","tag-first-debate","tag-maine-democrats","tag-political-trouble"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-07-17T082649.330.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2631145"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2631148,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631145\/revisions\/2631148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2631146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2631145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2631145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2631145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}