Overview
- Graham Platner faced a wave of criticism following Friday's CBS interview in which he said a hyper-masculine military culture shaped views tied to his past tattoo and posts.
- Republican veterans pushed back, with Rep. Don Bacon saying he never saw a Nazi tattoo in nearly 30 years of service and Sen. Tim Sheehy mocking the idea it was taught in training.
- Platner has been scrutinized for a Totenkopf skull emblem linked to the Nazi SS, which he later covered, and for deleted Reddit posts that insulted police and rural Mainers and included remarks about women and rape.
- He has alternated between apology and new explanations, saying he did four infantry tours and that exposure to civilian life changed his views over time.
- Despite the furor, reports say he leads Democrat Janet Mills in primary polling as national Democrats weigh his electability against Collins and consider whether to boost Mills before the June vote.