BAR HARBOR, Maine — As Graham Platner returned to the campaign trail Friday, he took time to indirectly address new allegations of “harmful” and “disturbing” behavior directed toward him by three women from his past relationships.
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At the same time, hundreds of supporters sent a signal that Platner is still with them despite all the negative attention. They gave him multiple standing ovations and at one point shouted his wife Amy Gartner’s name when he named her as his supporter.
In his speech, the Democratic Senate candidate said Maine was the state that gave him the personal strength to pull back from the brink.
“From the beginning, Mayne, you’ve had my back. Ten years ago, when I shared my personal journey through the darkness of PTSD and recovery and responsibility and growth, you had my back when the hurtful things I said on the internet became public,” he said to cheers.
Mr. Platner then more specifically referenced Thursday’s New York Times article detailing his ex-girlfriends’ accusations, saying, “You stand by me as every piece of that past and journey is dug up, litigated and weaponized.”
Although some of the women spoke of positive experiences with Platner, three did not. One of the women, Lindsey Fifield, said that while she dated Platner from approximately 2013 to 2015, Platner would “put her arm behind her back, force her into the bedroom, close the door from the other side so she couldn’t get out, and tell her to stay there until she ‘calmed down.'”
Fifield is also active in conservative organizations and campaigns, something Platner seemed to be referring to when he said some of the allegations were “politically motivated” and “false.” A former military veteran shares his journey to overcoming PTSD after a military tour.
“Maine raised me, Maine saved me,” Plattner said. “To everyone out there, Maine, I always have your back.”
At one point, Mr. Platner asked his wife to stand. The crowd chanted “Amy! Amy” and gave her a standing ovation.
Mr. Gartner came into the spotlight last week after the Wall Street Journal first reported that Mr. Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to several women during their marriage. The story came to light after a former campaign staffer revealed that Gartner himself had disclosed sexting to his campaign as a potential vulnerability last year.
Gartner defended her husband last week, saying how difficult their marriage had been, but that they had grown stronger since then.
Mr. Platner did not speak to reporters after the incident, but in interviews locally, including on Maine public radio, he denied ever making any physical threats.
In an interview with MS NOW on Thursday, Mr. Platner disputed some of the allegations in the New York Times article, including that he was physically abusive.
“Anything that claims physical characteristics or that I knew what my tattoo was is the statement of someone who is politically motivated,” he said.
Platner is looking to move beyond the headlines of his personal life and refocus his message about the need for change in Maine. On Friday, his campaign announced that he had raised $200,000 since the New York Times article was published, marking his best fundraising day since his primary challenger, Gov. Janet Mills, withdrew from the race. The primary election will be held on Tuesday.
While speaking with Maynards, he tried to focus the conversation back on his opponent in the general election, Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Mr. Collins has long been able to win re-election by positioning himself as a moderate, winning over independent voters.
Mr. Platner called that image a “charade.”
“We see through the travesty, and we see it through her actions. She voted to support Brett Kavanaugh. Before he was busy repealing the Voting Rights Act and disenfranchising black people in the South, he was busy doing the work that went on the ground to dismantle a woman’s right to choose. And she told us it was a settled law,” Plattner said. “She looked him in the eye and said he would never do that. Well, either she lied to us or she’s an idiot. Either way, you shouldn’t be a senator from Maine.”
At least six supporters who showed up at Mr. Platner’s event on Friday said they supported him regardless of the latest round of allegations.
Janice Lowe said after Platner’s remarks that she would like to hear from him personally tonight. Her decision: “I’m definitely going to vote for him.”
She said it was the Iran war that was “criminal,” accused President Donald Trump of never getting Congressional approval for military operations, and said she ultimately wanted to oust Collins, who had mostly voted for Trump.
Her husband, Galen Lowe, added that she believes Platner has overcome the allegations against her.
“People no longer feel like they can’t make mistakes and are doomed to what they’ve done,” Galen Lowe said. “Some of the stories I heard were not what I wanted to hear, but it made me realize that we are human and sometimes as humans we do things we are not proud of. But that doesn’t mean we can’t admit it and move on.
State Rep. Gary Friedman, who also attended Friday night, called Platner’s speech “excellent.”
“The main players are pretty realistic. We’ve all made a lot of mistakes in our lives and done things we regret,” he said. “When it comes to who we vote for in November, it’s going to be the candidate who really stands up for the people. And we’ve come to realize that that’s not Susan Collins’ job.”
