Despite new allegations, Maine’s Platner predicts voters will send him to Senate

The Democratic US senate candidate Graham Platner on Friday predicted that Maine ’s voters would support him four days later in his party primary despite a string of controversies – including recent negative headlines about his treatment of women that he said had been “weaponized”. In a 25-minute speech before supporters in Bar Harbor, the oyster farmer and US marine combat veteran addressed the controversies around his personal conduct, which escalated on Thursday with a New York Times report in which three former romantic partners described disturbing behavior, including being physically intimidated by him. “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 darkness, of recovery and accountability and growth, Maine had my back,” Platner said at the rally. “Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated and weaponized, you have my back.” The first-time candidate, who is seeking to oust the Republican US senator Susan Collins in November, said: “When politically motivated, serious and false accusations are made against me, Maine, you have my back. The state of Maine raised me. And the state of Maine saved me.” Maine’s primary vote on Tuesday looms as Democrats try to retake a majority in Congress for the latter half of Donald Trump’s second presidency. …