SouthernWorldwide.com – Democratic senators gathering for a private meeting with Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Tuesday largely sidestepped inquiries regarding the scandals plaguing his campaign, with some voicing optimism about his electoral prospects.
Platner traveled to Washington, D.C. for an urgent meeting with Democratic senators just a week before his primary election on June 9. His campaign has been continuously under scrutiny due to alleged sexting scandals and newly surfaced online posts.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, expressed strong confidence in a potential victory in Maine when questioned by reporters outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee building about her continued support for the progressive candidate.
When pressed further on her belief in Platner’s chances, Gillibrand affirmed, “I do. I have confidence that we are going to win Maine and I have no doubt.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, defended Platner by highlighting the substantial financial investment in advertising within Maine that targets the Democratic candidate.
“All I can tell you is that the wealthiest people in this country have now reserved close to $100 million in TV ads in a small state like Maine,” Sanders stated. “So what are the billionaires worried about? Why are they spending so much money trying to defeat this guy?”
“The answer is that he’s going to stand up to the oligarchies,” he concluded, speaking before his scheduled meeting with Platner.
In contrast, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, chose not to respond to reporters’ questions concerning the controversies surrounding Platner’s campaign as she entered the meeting at DSCC headquarters.
Senator Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, remarked that the ultimate decision rests “up to voters in Maine.”
When asked if he believed the electorate in the moderate state would support Platner, the Vermont senator responded, “We’ll see.”
Among the significant issues confronting the leading Democratic contender is a report from The Wall Street Journal detailing that his wife discovered sexually explicit text messages exchanged with multiple women shortly after their marriage in 2024.
Platner commented on the situation, stating, “We did the work, and I’m grateful for her every hour of every day. I’ve learned throughout this campaign is that people don’t care about gossip or headlines, they care that you’re fighting for their hospitals, their paycheck, their kids.”
The Marine Corps veteran has also faced backlash over a tattoo with Nazi associations and previously published online posts. One such post from 2019 on Reddit suggested that Purple Heart recipient Teddy Daniels “didn’t deserve to live.”
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Platner is set to compete against David Costello in Maine’s Democratic Senate primary on June 9. The victor of this primary will advance to face five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in the general election.
