Whoa, that sucks. I've not encountered that with poly.
What kind of stand do you have, and what kind of rubber are the pads made out of?
How long did the clear coat set before wet sanding?
Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to understand what might have happened.
ADD:
I'm sure the finish and wiring issues are both an easy fix. Just unfortunate and frustrating.
Any photos of the wiring?