Graham Platner dismisses mounting allegations at Maine rally, declares supporters have my back

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner used a campaign rally in Maine on Friday to push back against the growing controversies engulfing his campaign, dismissing recent allegations against him as “politically motivated” and thanking supporters for standing by him as scrutiny intensifies.Platner alluded repeatedly to the scandals that have rocked his bid to unseat Sen.Susan Collins (R-Maine), including resurfaced Reddit posts, allegations from former romantic partners and reporting about sexually explicit messages sent during his marriage.“When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public, as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and the darkness of recovery, accountability and growth, Maine had my back,” Platner told the crowd in Bar Harbor on Friday.“As every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized.

You have my back,” he said as new polling numbers show a tight race against the Republican incumbent, Sen.Susan Collins.“And when politically motivated, serious and false accusations are made against me, Maine, you have my back.”The remarks marked one of Platner’s most direct public responses yet to a wave of damaging stories that have threatened to derail his insurgent Senate campaign.In recent weeks, reporting by the Wall Street Journal detailed sexually explicit messages that Platner sent to other women during his marriage.Separate reporting by the New York Times cited former romantic partners who alleged episodes of physical intimidation, heavy drinking and troubling behavior during past relationships.Platner has denied the most serious allegations against him.Friday’s appearance in Bar Harbor came as the Democrat sought to refocus attention on his economic message and cast himself as a champion of working-class Mainers struggling with rising costs and economic insecurity.The controversies began last year when archived Reddit posts surfaced showing Platner making remark...