Democratic Senate Candidate Faces Scrutiny in Maine

Graham Platner, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Maine, is under significant media attention and criticism from Republicans due to some past controversial statements and a now-removed tattoo resembling a well-known Nazi symbol. Despite this, he seems to be maintaining his campaign momentum.

A recent poll indicates that Platner currently has a slight edge over long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins in what could be pivotal races as Republicans aim to hold onto their narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate during the upcoming midterm elections.

The Pine Tree State poll from the University of New Hampshire reveals that Platner enjoys 51% support from likely Maine voters, while Collins trails with 42%. Meanwhile, 6% of respondents are undecided, and 2% are backing a different candidate.

Platner, who is an oyster farmer and a veteran of both the Army and Marine Corps, is running on a progressive platform, with backing from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. He is leading Collins, a moderate Republican who is pursuing a sixth term representing the more liberal Maine.

In terms of voter sentiment, the poll found that 91% of Democrats indicated they would support Platner, contrasted with 87% of Republicans backing Collins. Collins holds a narrow advantage among independents, with 47% favoring her compared to 44% for Platner.

As Maine’s primary election looms, Platner appears to be a strong Democratic candidate following the withdrawal of two-term Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who cited funding and polling challenges as her reasons. Nonetheless, Mills’ name will still appear on the primary ballot.

According to the poll, Platner has a commanding 76% approval rating for the Democratic nomination, while Mills sits at 10%, and David Costello, another leading candidate, manages just 3% support. Collins currently faces no opposition for the Republican nomination.

Controversial Past Comments Resurface

Platner has focused his campaign on key economic issues, criticizing corporate influences and advocating for the working class. However, his views have drawn criticisms from Collins and other Republicans, who label them as extreme for Maine.

In a recent interview, Collins expressed that she believes Maine voters will reach a conclusion about Platner’s tilt to the left, but she’s not taking it for granted.

Conversely, Platner argued that Collins represents a long-standing establishment that prioritizes corporate and wealthy interests over the workforce, mentioning her repeated support for what he called “illegal and insane foreign wars.”

Recently, Platner has faced backlash from Republicans for his previous comments made over the last decade and some remarks he made on Reddit earlier this year, which have been widely reported.

Apologies and Reflections

Upon launching his Senate campaign, Platner issued an apology for a controversial Reddit post. However, in a recent interview, he refrained from further apologizing to voters regarding another post wherein he stated that wounded soldiers “didn’t deserve to live.”

Regarding his tattoo, Platner shared that he got the skull and bones tattoo back in 2007 while socializing with fellow Marines in Croatia. He noted that he only realized last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol, prompting him to cover it up with a different design.

Pressure from Within

Criticism of Platner isn’t limited to Republicans; several Democrats have also voiced concerns. Massachusetts Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss reiterated his disapproval this week, labeling Platner’s tattoo and remarks as “disqualifying” and stating he would vote for another candidate in the Maine Democratic primary.

The Pine Tree Poll was conducted from May 21 to May 25 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.