More and more red flags on this guy.

many of us are NOT surprised

We can surely do better than that.

in states like NC, OH and AK where I think we can flip. I won’t be sending a dime to Maine.

I’m so sick of people (mostly men) who go online to fulfill god knows what outside their relationship. You can’t respect your partner? Then you don’t belong in a relationship.

We can do better than this candidate.

Jeff Jackson was running for that Senate seat until the party asked him to step aside for Cal Cunningham.
If they'd just stayed the hell out of it, we'd have had Senator Jackson all this time.

In her 2020 race - every single poll showed Gideon beating Collins. There was one minor poll showing her losing by a single point, but most of the polling was like the one you mention... with one Quinnipiac poll showing her losing by double digits.

Yet she won by nine points.

..but I know nothing of their political history.

This is irrelevant

Or should JFK and Clinton have been thrown out of office?

This is just the latest in a long line of issues with this candidate that his supporters have willfully ignored or excused - sound familiar?

It is absolutely relevant, especially because, as many of us warned, the Collins campaign is just getting started - and why shouldn't they? The Maine Democrats have handed them all the ammunition team Collins needs by supporting a highly questionable candidate.

We are happy that Talarico is going after Paxton for all of his issues. Are you seriously suggesting that Collins' camp wouldn't do the same re Platner?

Gas and grocery prices are 100,000X more important in voters' heads

is that too much to ask?

I guess it is too much to ask.

Someone who can't control their impulsive behavior. Makes me wonder about what else he's been up to.

Weiner is a prime example of that.

This guy seems to have a boatload of issues. The Nazi tattoo put me off him from the early days. Then we found out about things he's said about women in social media. Then he sent out texts attacking all Democrats. Now this.

We can accept some dirty fighting in politics right now because we are fighting the mob, but we should not accept these things just because "trump does it too." We're trying to get away from this awful era, not add to it.

He's not perfect. But do you want Susan? Do you? Seriously, DO YOU?! Want more of Trump? Maybe JD Vance?? We can't find absolute perfection, so lets just screw ourselves.

Our own worst enemies. And Pukes vote more intelligently than many Dems.

These days they seem to get a free pass on almost anything.

or even before.

David Costello has a fine resume.

"Having grown up in a working-class family in Old Town and having served for more than 30 years in senior-level government positions, both in the USA and abroad – managing, not simply legislating or talking about complex multi-million-dollar programs and operations – David has the broadest and most fitting knowledge and experience to defeat Senator Collins in 2026 and best represent the people of Maine in the United States Senate.

Born in Bangor and Raised in a Working-Class Family in Old Town

Son of an Army veteran and labor organizer. Grandson of French and Irish American shoe, textile, and railroad workers.

Graduate of Old Town High, George Washington University, and the London School of Economics

​Senior Aide, Maine Secretary of State

Developed elections, campaign finance, and motor vehicle safety reforms.

​Maine State Senate Aide

​​Country Program and Regional Team Leader, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Conducted and managed foreign aid work in such conflict torn countries as Cambodia, Haiti, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, and Kosovo.

Senior Aide, Mayor of Baltimore

Directed community efforts to improve City’s schools and City's assistance to children, youth, and families at risk.

Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Planning (MDP)

Managed cross-agency efforts to support smarter, more sustainable growth.

Senior Aide, Governor of Maryland

Directed cross-agency efforts to achieve Governor’s most important goals.

Deputy and Acting Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)

Helped to manage 1,000+ employees, various programs, and $380 million annual budget.

Climate Action Now! and Energize Maryland Projects Coordinator

Directed foundation funded projects to aggressively tackle climate change."

I'll pay more attention now.

They should work on the assumption that past indiscretions will be revealed. If they're bad enough to hurt the campaign, don't run. Or have a damn good cover story, which he doesn't appear to have.

same thing.

The other problem is the double standard presented by our MSM.

We have the best press bought and paid for by the Republican Party.

This guy is the left's new savior, after Sinema and Fetterman worked out so well.

The primary.

David Costello

Janet Mills

Graham Platner

(Write in)

are all on the ballot to be ranked

https://durhammaine.gov/uploads/state-of-maine-dem-primary-election.pdf

Like Nazi tattoos, there is probably worse yet to be unearthed. We cannot win elections without women, and non-MAGA women do not like cheaters, creeps, and child rapists. Platner ticks two of those three boxes.

why.

The flaws were right in front of us. The Nazi tattoo? A foolish young man. Rape apolgia? He's renounced what he said. The list goes on.

Now we have this and again it's "oh, it's between him and his wife." Really?

Oh, but he's for Medicare for all so it's all OK.

I agree with Bernie on most issues (which actually align with Democratic values, Sanders did not invent those positions). A great judge of character, he is not.

David Costello supports Medicare for all.

it is disgusting to see him whitewashed

This type of in discretion seems to affect everyone except Frump. Platner came in with a bang and now I'm not sure there's any way to overcome this disaster. Is anyone vetting our candidates?

it's not like there wasn't already concerns about this guy

and becomes the candidate, who would you vote for?

Would you not vote?

(pretend you can vote if you can't)

question is what will independents do

But it was 2013 and he apologized so it's not a disqualifer.

oppo research on himself before he decided to run for office. Did he really think none of this would ever come out?

They seem to like candidates that cheat.

He always gave me the Lettermans. The tattoo creeped me all the way out and his gruff hypermasculine thing was a turnoff for me as much as it is a positive for others.

Good for David Costello!

Epstein Class wants to sink this guy bad

Upstanding moral individual he seems not to be. Evidence continues to present.Maine messed up big time. Sad.

Sexual peccadillos are so 20th Century.

But it is an indication that he’s a sleazebag. Wouldn’t hurt him if he was running in, say, the Deep South. But in Maine? Could easily be enough to torpedo his candidacy.

why oh why can't democrats keep their lust in their pants People are getting HURT

choice than Platner. Early voting has started, but the primary is June 9.

I believe Cunningham was ahead of Tillis in NC for US Senate until a texting scandal came to light.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/north-carolina-democratic-senate-candidate-admits-sending-sexual-texts-strategist-n1241962

Deal with it.

Maine Primary Elections are happening June 9.

If he is nominated, it's going to be too late to deal with it.

Good luck

From a previous post by demmiblue. Thank you, demmiblue.
Excerpt:
Earlier this week, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) launched the joint fundraising page, which urged donors to “Contribute to pro-Israel Candidates for U.S. Senate,” displaying Stevens and Collins together with preset donation amounts. The joint fundraiser was “paid for and authorized” by both candidates, according to AIPAC.

The fundraising campaign, which included an email blast, also attacked one of Stevens’s Democratic rivals, Abdul El-Sayed, the race’s most outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza. He also was the only candidate endorsed by Track AIPAC, a grassroots group that documents and opposes the influence of AIPAC and pro-Israel political spending. The fundraiser accused El-Sayed and Graham Platner, the Democrat running against Collins in Maine, of “embracing extreme rhetoric,” pushing “false accusations of genocide,” and supporting cuts to aid for Israel.

“There is a coordinated, well-funded effort to punish anyone who stands with Israel and it’s gaining ground fast,” the email said. “It’s being driven by the far-left fringe of American politics, pushed by Bernie Sanders and amplified by voices like Hasan Piker, who are normalizing hostility toward Israel and turning it into a political weapon.”

https://www.metrotimes.com/news/politics-elections/aipac-pairs-haley-stevens-with-republican-in-joint-senate-fundraiser-attacks-el-sayed/


Timing is everything.

But our SecDef has a Nazi tattoo that is NOT covered up, and Epstein Island is just a shrug?
Platner should throw it all back at them. It's all fair game.

This one?
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has faced significant controversy over several of his tattoos, but historians and investigators have not identified any explicit Nazi symbols on his body.
The primary tattoo that sparked this concern is a Jerusalem Cross on his chest, a widely recognized Christian symbol dating back to the Crusades.

Platner on the other hand sported a actual Nazi tattoo, a Totenkopf tattoo for almost 20 years, the Totenkopf was adopted by Hitler's SS, including the units that guarded concentration camps.

“I lusted in my mind”

Oh the horrors…lol

For a party that said Clinton’s consensual sex with Lewinsky was a nothingburger and certainly didn’t interfere with his elected duties, the outrage in this thread sounds as prim as any Bible toting hypocrite. As far as I can tell, this was all consensual and counseling is happening in his marriage. His sex life is private, as long as it isn’t illegal. IMHO.

Like there are states where they don't?

His wife has posted a video. I don't have a link but, I am sure someone here does and will post it.

EDIT: Already here-https://democraticunderground.com/100221271510

It's a click bait title, but everyone who reads it wants to vote for him now. A real human being for Senate? Mainers love the guy. The article explains why they might.

They would declare him a red-blooded American male and move on.

We don't need to ruin our Senate prospects with purity tests. We need to win the election in Maine.

AIPAC, Schumer, and pro-Netanyahu forces will always try to eviscerate any who dare to speak out about the atrocities the Israeli Government have committed against the Palestinians! These allegations about what consenting adults did compared to Israeli soldiers forcing dogs to r*pe Palestinian prisoners are pale in comparison to those human rights abuses.

NT

She has made a statement that he posted on his youtube. I think everyone who has commented here might want to take a listen. IMHO
Why are you piling on? Platner is making the argument that we all want to hear and it's resonating as well as energizing voters. Will he be a good senator and keep fighting for the people? We don't know but Collins sure won't. No one is condoning his past actions that are between he and his wife. It's what he can achieve as a senator for the people, that is more important. I will share this comment that thought said it well. Have a great blue moon Sunday all.
@davidrowe762
8 hours ago (edited)
The establishment doesn’t understand that people support Graham because he’s authentic. The shortcomings they try to tar him with are what makes him human. We’re sick of polished politicians who pretend to live holier than thou lives while passing legislation that destroys the working and middle class. And most of those politicians have skeletons in their closet too, but pretend to be people they’re not. Graham comes as he is, flaws and all, and doesn’t deny them but speaks to how he’s grown from those experiences. That’s the human condition in its purest form. We can all see ourselves in that journey. So they can throw all the shit they want at him, but as long as he stays true to his working class agenda, he will have the support of Mainers and people far beyond (writing from Canada 🇨🇦