UMVA has learned that Republican senators are openly denouncing Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, as scrutiny of his candidacy intensifies ahead of Tuesday's primary.
The mounting criticism comes as Platner faces a barrage of new allegations and controversies, including sexting scandals, mocking a wounded American soldier, and crude sexual posts on Reddit. Despite this, many Senate Democrats are declining to publicly defend him, leaving some to wonder if they still support his candidacy.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was blunt in his assessment, saying, "I think it is really sad when you have someone who's a self-described communist, who put a Nazi tattoo on himself, to see so many Senate Democrats supporting him. That should be beyond the pale."
When asked about Platner, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., responded evasively, saying, "Who told you I was supporting him?" He later added, "I don’t vote in that state." Other Democratic senators, including Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., also declined to comment or claimed they hadn't paid attention to the Maine election.
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., expressed hope that Maine voters will reject Platner's candidacy, saying, "I think it’s going to be interesting to see if the voters of Maine are able to see through the lies that Graham Platner is planting. He’s trying to excuse himself for behavior that is totally unconscionable."
A recent report revealed explosive excerpts from Platner’s ex-girlfriends, who alleged that he hates women, detailed fantasies about rape and killing, and was aware of the Nazi connotations of his chest tattoo. Despite these allegations, Platner remains the frontrunner in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
Many Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continue to back Platner, viewing Maine's Republican-held Senate seat as a top pickup opportunity in the midterms. However, some Republicans, like Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., believe Platner has no business representing anyone, saying, "You got to really feel sorry for the true Democrats in this country. They have no representation."
If elected, Platner will face off against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in November's midterms. Some Republicans, including Sen. Hagerty and Sen. Tuberville, are confident that Platner cannot beat Collins, with Tuberville saying, "This Platner guy can’t beat Susan Collins, number one. But to even have him in the race is embarrassing — to me — for Maine and for our country."
