SouthernWorldwide.com – Maine voters are divided on whether the numerous controversies surrounding Democrat Graham Platner’s Senate campaign will influence their decision in the upcoming November elections.
Some voters view Platner’s past remarks on sexual abuse, terror, and race – made years before he announced his Senate bid – as a consequence of his military service and the mental strain it can cause.
However, for others, these comments reveal a character that is unfit for a position in Congress.
A voter named Tina from Sanford, Maine, expressed her disapproval, stating, “I think it’s kind of ridiculous. I mean, is that all right to say things like that and be, ‘okay, we’re gonna vote for him?’ I don’t think so.”
Platner’s controversial statements have garnered significant attention in Maine, where he is poised to become the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Senator Susan Collins, a Republican.
This Senate seat is seen by Democrats as a prime opportunity to unseat a moderate Republican in a state that leans Democratic.
With Governor Janet Mills withdrawing from the Senate race late last month, Platner is widely considered the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party and is expected to secure the nomination in the upcoming primary.
Democrats are now hoping that Platner’s past remarks will not alienate enough voters and inadvertently lead to Senator Collins securing a sixth term.
Senator Collins, who has held her seat since 1997, was last re-elected in 2020, defeating her Democratic challenger Sara Gideon with 51.0% of the vote compared to Gideon’s 42.4%.
In one resurfaced Reddit post from 2013, Platner suggested that victims of rape should take more responsibility for their own safety.
“How about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not so f—ed up when they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?” Platner wrote.
He added, “If you don’t want to be in a compromising situation, act like an adult for f—s sake.”
Adding to the controversy, Platner also authored an op-ed in which he referred to some terrorists as “freedom fighters.”
Furthermore, another Reddit post saw him label police officers as “bastards.”
Marg, a resident of Sanford, Maine, believes these inflammatory comments should make voters reconsider their support for Platner.
“I think it’s horrible. He doesn’t have my vote, that’s for sure. Not only does it weigh on me, it weighs on a lot of other people,” Marg stated.
Christine, a voter from Acton, Maine, found the comments regarding sexual assault particularly disturbing.
“I’m a victim of sexual abuse in the past. That comment really struck home. I know people make mistakes — I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I’m just being honest with saying that I’m kind of turned off by it,” Christine shared.
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Conversely, some voters do not consider Platner’s past remarks to be the central issue of the election.
Ray, from Lebanon, Maine, expressed his continued support, saying, “He seems like he’s out for the working man. He is a working man. And he sounds like he’s looking out for us.”
When asked about Platner’s controversial comments, Ray reiterated his backing for the candidate.
Others suggested that such behavior is not uncommon among political candidates.
Cathy, a resident of Shapleigh, Maine, indicated that the comments would not affect her voting decision.
“Not really, no. I think all politicians do weird stuff,” Cathy commented.
Maine voters will first participate in primary elections on June 9 to select their respective party nominees.
The general election, where these nominees will face off, is scheduled for November 3.
Platner issued an apology for his controversial Reddit posts last fall, shortly after launching his Senate campaign.
He also addressed a tattoo of a skull and crossbones, which bore resemblance to a Nazi symbol, explaining that he got it in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia.
Platner stated that he covered the tattoo with a new design last year after learning of its resemblance to a Nazi symbol.
A Republican group supporting Senator Collins has launched a new advertisement and website highlighting Platner’s past controversial comments and his now-covered tattoo.
Platner dismissed these attacks, stating, “The Democratic establishment tried to use all those attacks against me and failed miserably.”
He added, “Now the Republican establishment is going to try to use the exact same attacks, and that will also fail miserably.”
Platner believes that “the people of Maine understand exactly what this is. They’re not happy to see millions of dollars poured into negative TV ads in a state that, quite frankly, could use millions of dollars of investment in lots of other things instead of just negative television.”
He concluded, “And I don’t think it’s going to work, because it hasn’t up until this point.”
