Meet Graham Platner: Marine, oyster farmer, communist
In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.
TL;DR
- Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, is being marketed as an 'everyman' appealing to working-class voters.
- Questions are raised about the accuracy of Platner's claims regarding his military service timeline and his knowledge of a tattoo with Nazi associations.
- Platner has previously described himself as a 'communist' and made critical remarks about rural white Americans and law enforcement.
- His candidacy is viewed by some as representative of an ideological shift within the Democratic Party, with support from groups like the Democratic Socialists of America.
- The article contrasts Platner's revolutionary rhetoric with Sen. Susan Collins's embodiment of traditional American values and patriotism.