Times reported<\/a> that Platner displayed \u201cdisturbing\u201d behavior with several former partners. One of the women in the Times report also said Platner knew that his tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol \u2014 contrasting his public statements about it \u2014 and produced private texts to friends long before he publicly denied the knowledge, stating that he\u2019d told her so.<\/p>\nIt has led numerous Democrats to share concern about Platner\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n
“If he were running in Jersey, he’d either be thrown off the ballot or buried under the Meadowlands,\u201d Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) said Friday, citing the latest allegations. “I think people in Maine should consider a different candidate right now. You know, Janet Mills is still on the ballot. I think people should be voting for another Democrat next week.”<\/p>\n
Moderates like Gottheimer who were already not big fans of Platner were in the minority in speaking out publicly to say his past is disqualifying. Behind the scenes, however, there\u2019s growing concern about his viability in November, especially given the importance of turning out moderate, middle-aged women that are a crucial bloc of Maine\u2019s graying electorate.<\/p>\n
Maine is the only blue state on Senate Democrats\u2019 target list, and taking it out of play could sink the party\u2019s strategy for flipping the chamber.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a seat that we critically need to pick up to have any chance of taking the Senate, this just isn\u2019t good,\u201d said a longtime Democratic fundraiser, granted anonymity to discuss the race candidly. \u201cDoing a last-minute sub might be the best option, or the only option, but it certainly doesn\u2019t give a lot of comfort to those of us who ask people to write checks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we have to wait till after the primary and hope they can talk him into dropping out \u2026 that would appeal to me,\u201d said the fundraiser, who is also a major donor.<\/p>\n
A Democratic Party official based in another state said they \u201cdon\u2019t see pressure for him to drop out really ratcheting up until after the primary results.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when the knives would really come out, especially if there’s another story with more allegations,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n
Still, even among those who are hoping for a switch, there\u2019s growing acceptance Platner probably won\u2019t get on board. Democrats increasingly believe any effort to push him out of the race will have to come from within his supporter network, arguing that Senate Democratic leadership and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has limited leverage to force his hand because he was not the establishment\u2019s pick to begin with.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s pressure on the DSCC to get a different candidate in there,\u201d said a national Democratic strategist working on various Senate campaigns. But \u201cthis is not unfortunately something the DSCC can snap their fingers and do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DSCC did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
Two progressive strategists in Platner\u2019s orbit confirmed there have been no discussions about dropping out, and they are confident Platner will be able to mitigate the damage of recent reports by discussing his post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/p>\n
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who is rallying with Platner in Maine on Friday, said in a statement to POLITICO that Platner \u201chimself has said he was in a dark place after his military service.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one should excuse his past relationships or attack the women who have come forward, but he has accepted responsibility and worked hard to be a better man,\u201d Khanna said. \u201cHe understands he was self-absorbed and misogynistic after tours as a frontline infantryman in Iraq. But he spent four years on the ocean as an oyster farmer and got to a better place. We need grace and redemption in America.\u201d<\/p>\n
Platner\u2019s supporters have largely rallied around his cause, dismissing the latest reporting as inconsequential when compared to the magnitude of the policy stakes in the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a mean boyfriend when he got out of the military and was drinking. Susan Collins was the defining vote for the Big Beautiful Bill,\u201d said Maine state Rep. Valli Geiger, a Platner supporter.<\/p>\n
Geiger, who appeared in a campaign ad for the oysterman earlier this year, said she doesn\u2019t know whether Platner will be able to win in November, particularly if \u201cthe mainstream press continues to do character assassination for five months.\u201d But she doubted any Democrat could replace him and maintain the grassroots support he has generated, questioning the motives of those focused on negative stories about him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just want to defeat him. They just want to make sure that the status quo remains in place,\u201d she said. \u201cI think the fight’s worth having.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam Wren, Chris Sommerfeldt, Erin Doherty, Shia Kapos and Melanie Mason contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/p>\n