Maine oyster farmer Graham Platner is headed for an epic showdown with Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the midterm elections, backed by top Democrats continuing to largely sidestep scandals involving the Marine veteran’s explicit text messages, past online comments and a covered-up Nazi tattoo.
Once a nine-point leader in polls over the incumbent, the latest polls have him statistically tied. Prominent supporters on the left such as New York U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, haven’t budged in support.
With analysis such as 270towin.com projecting a 48-48 deadlock and four toss-ups that include Maine, the party that roared about morality as Donald Trump was skewered in his run for president is giving its guy a pass.
Platner won the Democratic primary for Maine last week, putting him on course to try and stop a sixth term for Collins. Trump’s agenda and accomplishments in his final two years could hinge on the outcome.
Platner has posted offensive social media posts criticizing victims of sexual assault and said white rural Americans are stupid. He has been accused – shortly after getting married – of sending sexually explicit messages to women. The tattoo in question resembles a Nazi symbol and he has since covered it up along with denial of knowing the symbol’s meaning.
A June 4 publishing by The New York Times included disturbing accounts from several of Platner’s ex-girlfriends, one of which said he injured her and that he knew that his tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol when he got it.
Top Democrats have either refused to denounce Platner or ignore the controversies as they push to win back a majority of the U.S. Senate in the midterms.
Schumer, the Senate majority leader, has repeatedly sidestepped questions about Platner even after meetings with the Maine Democrat to discuss the scandals.
“I endorsed Graham Platner, we’re going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate,” Schumer told reporters recently.
Others in the left flank of the Democratic Party, including Rep. Ro Khanna of California, have publicly defended Platner and recently campaigned with him. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, member of the Democratic caucus in the chamber, also continues to back Platner.
“The behavior described in the New York Times story was wrong and toxic,” Khanna said in a statement. “Graham has acknowledged that and sought redemption. The people of Maine deserve a senator who is going to stand up to the billionaire class, against genocide, and for the working class.”
But the growing controversies appear to be impacting his support with those that matter most – voters.
Tuesday’s poll from Next Up/Wick put Platner ahead of Collins 48%-45% and last Friday’s Quantus Insights sampling had Platner ahead 46%-45%. Each was within the margin of error, meaning the polling is a statistical tie.
A June 4 poll release from UMass Lowell had Platner ahead 48%-43%. That’s the same day the New York Times article published. A May 27 poll release from the University of New Hampshire had Platner comfortably ahead 51%-42%; a week earlier, Pan Atlantic’s polling had Platner ahead 48%-41%.
Platner has acknowledged his issues and has asked Maine voters to “overlook” his past transgressions as the general election approaches.
“Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self medicated with alcohol, and was far from a perfect boyfriend,” he said in a statement. “I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better. Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated.
“I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.”
His campaign has also pushed back against claims made in the Times article, pointing out that one of the women making the allegations – Lyndsey Fifield – has worked for Republican candidates and causes in the past.
Republicans say Platner is a “damaged” candidate and that top Democrats’ silence on Platner’s controversies is hypocritical after they repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump for his past misogynistic and bombastic rhetoric.
“It’s very hypocrictical,” said Kristina Parker, a spokeswoman for the Maine Republican Party. “They’re more scared of him being independent minded like John Fetterman than of him being a Nazi. And they’re willing to overlook his often violent rhetoric.”
Fetterman is the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Katrina Smith, the House’s assistant minority leader, said she finds it “appalling that Democrats continue to make excuses for a man who has, even recently, demeaned and disrespected women.”
“Their refusal to condemn someone who has become a national embarrassment calls into question their claims to stand for women, working families, and victims of sexual assault,” she said.
Maine Republican Party Chairman Jim Deyermond, chairman of the Maine Republican Party, said it’s “disturbing” that state and national Democrats are still attaching themselves to his campaign.
“There are too many reasons to list why Graham Platner is a bad candidate,” Deyermond said. “Graham Platner lacks poise and character. He is out of control, and it seems he always has been.”