A pile-on against Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is mostly a smear, and it's good news for him because the attacks aren't landing.

• The New York Times ran a big story on Platner, but the worst it found is one ex-girlfriend's uncorroborated claim that he grabbed her, which he denies.
• That accuser turns out to be a Republican operative — the same one who earlier leaked a story about his tattoo, and a co-founder of a pro-Kavanaugh group.
• Mainstream outlets and even some Democrats, like John Fetterman, are piling on, partly because Platner refuses corporate money and threatens the establishment.
• Despite the attacks, Platner is still leading Susan Collins by roughly five to nine points, and his polls are rising, not falling.
• CNN downplayed his strong numbers, spinning Google searches and betting odds to suggest he's in trouble.

Outlook: Platner stays the favorite to beat Collins in Maine, and the media attacks are likely to keep coming as the race could decide the Senate.