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America 250 State Fair attendees questioned why Democrats waited until a rape allegation emerged to abandon U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, arguing the party ignored a string of earlier controversies before finally calling on the Maine candidate to drop out.
"The Democratic Party has a lifespan that's not much longer," Nancy from Tennessee told Fox News Digital.
"They realize — party's sinking, and one of the ways to keep it from sinking is get the dead weight off the ship and he is a piece of dead weight," she added.
After a woman Platner previously dated, Jenny Rapricot, accused the Democrat of rape in two bombshell Monday reports, members of the party finally began to rescind their support for the progressive Senate candidate from Maine.
Bob from Maryland speculated of Democrats, "I think they're so worried about not getting the House or Senate back, or the presidency, they'd do anything."
Rapricot told CNN and Politico about her allegation of rape against Platner. She claims that in 2021 he trespassed into her home intoxicated and forced himself on her — despite her repeatedly demanding he stop.
If that bombshell allegation wasn't enough, within 24 hours of the reports becoming public, the Washington Post published Lyndsey Fifield's accusations that Platner, whom she also dated, would remove condoms during sex in a "sneaky way."
Rapricot's allegation was the tipping point for prominent Democrats who stuck by Platner through months of controversy and allegations surfacing during his campaign for U.S. Senate.
From a Nazi-linked tattoo, to abusive partner allegations, to a slew of lewd Reddit posts ranging from comments about masturbating in portable toilets to mocking a wounded U.S. soldier — this appeared to be the final straw for the party after a long-winded campaign full of scandals.
PLATNER'S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE 'ABSOLUTELY' RAPED HER
"What happened to believe all women?" Karen from Maryland said, pushing back on a phrase often used by Democrats when it comes to allegations of sexual misconduct. "It's disgusting how they let this guy go so long."
She continued, "It just makes you sick to your stomach."
"This latest scandal should sink him," Rory from North Carolina predicted. "He should not be eligible to be in Congress based on the things in the past, and especially this current lady coming out against him."
Sandy from Virginia argued Platner's rise reflected broader voter frustration with the political establishment.
"We're seeing people rebelling against what they're seeing happening in their lives right now," Sandy told Fox News Digital. "And so they're looking for something else. And a lot of the things he said resonated with the people in Maine."
Another attendee argued that "normal Democrats" will not support Platner and the other far-left progressive candidates running for Congress in the upcoming election.
"With the rise of the DSA, coupled with him, the normal Democrats simply are not going to tolerate it," Nancy said. "Everybody's had it."
TOP DEMOCRATIC SENATE HOPEFULS TURN ON PLATNER AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION
Nearly every attendee Fox News Digital interviewed at the Great American State Fair amid the fallout of the rape allegation said Platner should drop out, with one Republican voter saying he'd rather see the candidate remain in the race because it would make Democrats easier to beat.
"In my opinion, I think he should stay in the race," Fred from Texas said. "It’ll be easier for us to beat him."
Democrats' calls for Platner to withdraw come days before Maine's July 13 deadline for replacing him on the general election ballot in November. If he exits before 5 p.m. on Sunday, state Democrats would have until July 27 to choose a replacement.
Platner's campaign said Monday he is "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."
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