Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered scant details Tuesday about his meeting with Maine’s embattled Senate hopeful Graham Platner after the Democratic candidate met with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill. In the past week, Platner has faced significant backlash after reports surfaced that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women who were not his wife, leaving party members concerned about unseating Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November. Schumer repeatedly sidestepped questions about Platner during his weekly press conference following the closed-door meeting.
“We’re going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate,” Schumer responded to five separate questions.
Schumer was asked if he was satisfied with Platner’s explanations for the controversies he has faced, and if he believes Platner’s former competitor, Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), should reenter the race. Each question was met with the same response.
Platner also declined to answer questions from reporters as he entered the meeting with Schumer and other Senate Democrats earlier in the day.
While Schumer voiced confidence in Platner’s ability to beat Collins, other prominent Democrats are not as sure about his chances.
