How Maine Democrats view Platner's scandals and chances to oust Sen. Collins

By — Geoff Bennett Geoff Bennett By — Kyle Midura Kyle Midura Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-maine-democrats-view-platners-scandals-and-chances-to-oust-sen-collins Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio Republicans and Democrats in Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina select their nominees on Tuesday, but much of the nation’s political focus will be on Maine. Democrat Graham Platner is expected to emerge from the primary to take on five-term incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins. But Platner has faced one scandal after another during the campaign. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Alex Seitz-Wald. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Geoff Bennett: Republicans and Democrats in Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina select their party nominees today, but much of the nation's political focus will be on Maine, where the end of the Senate primary marks the beginning of one of the most consequential general election races in the country. Whichever Democrat emerges will take on five-term incumbent and Republican Senator Susan Collins. That's expected to be Graham Platner, even as he grapples with one scandal after another. Todd Richards, Platner Supporter: I'm still going to vote for Graham because if his wife, Amy, can get over it and still stay married to him, then I think, as a voter, I should be able to get over it and still vote for him. Barbara Fenlason, Collins Supporter: She doesn't always vote the way I like, but I call her the lesser of two evils. I hate to say it, but the other side is -- there's a lot of negative things coming out that I wouldn't want in a dogcatcher in my town. Geoff Bennett: Alex Seitz-Wald is deputy editor of the Midcoast Village and a former senior national political reporter for NBC News. Alex, it's great to see you. Alex Seitz-Wald, Deputy Editor, Midcoast Villager: Thanks for having me. Geoff Bennett: So, as you well know, the Democratic Senate candidate, Graham Platner, he built this early lead leaning into this story of him as an oyster farmer, his personal story as a combat veteran. He ran this insurgent outsider campaign, but his candidacy has been dogged by controversy, from scrutiny over this tattoo that he has that was linked to Nazi imagery, to allegations from former girlfriends about his behavior. More recently, a former campaign staffer publicly argued he's unfit for office. How are Democratic voters in Maine weighing those concerns against what many see as a potential, underscore the word potential, opportunity to flip a Senate seat? Alex Seitz-Wald: Well, this latest round of controversies involving his relationships with ex-girlfriends and also sexting other women early in his marriage have definitely hit a little bit differently. These are, of course, not the first scandals that Platner has dealt with, bu