Graham Platner's campaign is dead. The dream he inspired should outlive it.

Mainers who were all in for Graham Platner should take some time to figure out how they got it so wrong. They should ask themselves why they ignored so many warning signs to embrace a mystery man with a quirky background.

Sure, Platner's undeniable charisma came through loud and clear every time he took the stage and often in front of the cameras. I felt best about him after a long off-the-record chat in the spring. In person, he comes across as a good guy with his heart in the right place.