Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, moved to quell mounting Democratic anxieties about his candidacy on Friday, telling supporters in a defiant speech that his previous habits was being “weaponized” by his political opponents.
A day after The New York Times reported that three girls — a conservative and two Democrats — who had been romantically concerned with Mr. Platner described unstable and “poisonous” relationships, Mr. Platner addressed a crowd at a theater in Bar Harbor, expressing confidence that Maine voters would stick by him.
“When politically motivated, severe and false accusations are made in opposition to me, Maine, you could have my again,” Mr. Platner stated. “The state of Maine raised me, and the state of Maine saved me, and to all of you on the market, Maine, I’ll all the time have your again.”
Mr. Platner’s look got here at a tense second in one of many 12 months’s premier Senate races. With simply days left earlier than Maine’s main on Tuesday, revelations about Mr. Platner’s private historical past have induced escalating discomfort inside his social gathering, whereas drawing intensifying assaults from Republicans.
The rally additionally happened lower than every week after The Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Platner’s spouse, Amy Gertner, had sought to warn his marketing campaign final 12 months that her husband had been exchanging sexual messages with a number of different girls.
Onstage, Mr. Platner referred to Ms. Gertner by identify, drawing chants of “Amy!” It was one of many strongest responses from a supportive however comparatively sedate crowd that included attendees who stated they had been anxious about Mr. Platner’s candidacy and nonetheless attending to know the candidate.
Mr. Platner stated from the stage that he had gone by way of a interval of “darkness” after his army service.
“Now, as each single piece of that previous and journey will get dug up, litigated and weaponized, you could have my again,” he stated.
Exterior the theater, Democratic anxieties were rising about Mr. Platner’s probabilities in a race seen as key to the social gathering’s probabilities of reclaiming the Senate.
Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire informed Punchbowl News that the allegations had been “severe and deserve scrutiny.” Consultant Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania informed CNN that Mr. Platner had “disqualified himself.” Nonetheless different Democrats dodged questions on Mr. Platner or tried to downplay their considerations.
The packed rally, held a couple of blocks from the Atlantic coast on the almost century-old Criterion Theater in Bar Harbor, was organized earlier than the Occasions report, partly by Consultant Ro Khanna, a progressive California Democrat who has been a vocal supporter of Mr. Platner’s marketing campaign. In an interview earlier than the rally, he stated “we have to respect the ladies who got here ahead.” However he added that he had been inspired by a dialog he had with Mr. Platner through which he stated the candidate had acknowledged previous “misogyny” and promised that he “grew as an individual and as a person.”
Whereas some within the crowd described themselves as enthusiastic supporters of Mr. Platner, others stated they had been nonetheless forming opinions about him — and expressed concern about current information experiences about his previous.
The three girls who supplied essential accounts of relationship Mr. Platner informed The Occasions that whereas spending time with him might be exhilarating, he may be demeaning to girls and, in no less than one case, even bodily threatening. He drank closely, they stated, and was usually untrue.
Mr. Platner “strongly disputes” any claims of bodily intimidation or altercations, his marketing campaign stated. The marketing campaign additionally organized interviews for The Occasions with three different girls who supplied way more optimistic descriptions of their relationships.
In his remarks, Mr. Platner additionally attacked Senator Susan Collins, the Republican he’s operating to unseat, casting her as a part of a system of “corrupted politicians.” Earlier within the day, Ms. Collins told local reporters that the allegations within the Occasions report had been “troubling” and that Mr. Platner had “lots of inquiries to reply.”
Brody Stofflet, 31, stated he got here to the occasion Friday night to see how Mr. Platner would reply. Mr. Stofflet, who described himself as a swing voter, stated he appreciated facets of Mr. Platner’s message however that a few of Mr. Platner’s private habits was “nonexcusable.”
“I don’t anticipate a squeaky-clean politician,” Mr. Stofflet, clad in a baseball cap, stated from the again of the theater. However he added that he wished to see if Mr. Platner had “grown from the errors.”
Holly Woodworth, a 57-year-old Democrat sitting close to the entrance, stated Mr. Platner was the primary politician she had seen “in lots of elections” whom she felt “impressed by.” She stated that the allegations had not shaken her assist, and that they hadn’t shocked her given how Mr. Platner had beforehand described going by way of a darkish interval after his army service.
Nonetheless, she stated the tales about Mr. Platner had been making her anxious.
“I care whether or not the Democrats win the bulk,” Ms. Woodworth stated, expressing concern that revelations about Mr. Platner’s previous would drag down his candidacy, and Democrats’ probabilities of successful the Senate together with it. “I need a change.”
The rally happened in a Home battleground district in northern Maine that’s held by Consultant Jared Golden, a Democrat who’s vacating his seat. 4 Democrats are on the poll within the congressional main, and Republicans, who’re operating former Gov. Paul LePage within the district, see a pickup alternative.
One of many Democratic candidates, Matt Dunlap, the state auditor, attended the rally and stated in an interview earlier than the occasion that he didn’t know “what to make of” the allegations by Mr. Platner’s previous girlfriends. However he added that “folks have unhealthy relationships.”
“He’s been very open about it,” Mr. Dunlap stated, “and if he continues to take action, I believe folks will then refocus on the central points, like well being care, baby care.”
Jordan Wooden, one other Democratic Home candidate within the district who endorsed Mr. Platner in April and didn’t attend the rally, stated in an interview earlier Friday that the Occasions report “raises allegations which can be very regarding to me — troubling.”
He stated he was not withdrawing his endorsement of Mr. Platner. However, he added, “I would like to speak to Graham earlier than I say something past that.”
