"As is typical for his campaign events, the gruff, plain-talking, flannel-clad, local business owner and former marine dissected the establishment political system that serves the interests of the ultra wealthy in front of a captivated audience. Excitement around Platner snowballed after he announced his run for office in late August, with his campaign raising more than $3m in donations in a matter of weeks."
"Over the past few weeks, there has been a steady drip of reports featuring Platner's unearthed racist, sexist and homophobic online comments. Then, Platner tried to get ahead of the story when he revealed, and then covered, a tattoo on his chest that closely resembles a Nazi symbol. Meanwhile, he's had to justify staff turnover at the top level of his campaign while he addresses his past actions."
Graham Platner addressed 700 people in a Damariscotta school gymnasium as a Democratic hopeful aiming to unseat five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins. He presented himself as a gruff, plain-talking, flannel-clad local business owner and former marine who attacks an establishment political system serving the ultra-wealthy. His campaign raised more than $3 million within weeks, generating populist enthusiasm for liberal policies. Recent revelations of racist, sexist and homophobic online comments have forced the campaign into damage control. He also revealed and then covered a chest tattoo that closely resembles a Nazi symbol. The campaign has faced top-level staff turnover and mounting scrutiny.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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