In a wide-ranging interview, Platner addressed the scandals that have engulfed his campaign and said he’s “very proud of who I am today” after the “arcs and valleys” of his life. He inveighed against “establishment politics,” dished on his tense relationship with national Democratic leaders, made the case that he’s more “electable” than Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and explained why he went from voting for Republican Sen. Susan Collins years ago to viewing her as an empty vessel today.


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Platner said he has “voted for Susan Collins at least once, possibly twice” but “it was a long time ago” — as the 72-year-old incumbent closes in on 30 years in the Senate.



“I also believed back then that she was a moderate. As time has gone by, I don’t believe that. I think that’s a charade, and it’s worn thin,” he said. “I see Collins as, frankly, just another self-interested, establishment politician who uses this kind of myth of their moderation to stay in power, but doesn’t really do anything with their power. She’s the chair of the Appropriations Committee. I was told for years that when she got the gavel, there was going to be a boon of riches for the state of Maine. That is not materializing.”

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In one of his posts, Platner wrote, “I got older and became a communist.” He said he has never considered himself to be a communist and that the comment was merely “internet s---posting — and also … if you read it’s very clear that I’m joking.”