Sen. Bernie Sanders said he does not regret initially standing behind Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner, even as damaging allegations and controversies mounted around the once-rising oyster farmer.
Sanders, the Vermont independent, was one of Platner’s first major national supporters, helping propel him into the spotlight soon after he entered the race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat.
Asked Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” whether he wished he had withdrawn his support sooner, Sanders replied, “No, I don’t think so.”
The self-described democratic socialist remained in Platner’s corner through a series of scandals, including reports about offensive social media posts, an admission that he had cheated on his wife, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, and allegations from several women accusing him of sexual misconduct.
As scrutiny intensified, Sanders frequently shifted attention to the outside money targeting Platner and continued to cast him as a working-class candidate taking on entrenched political power.
Sanders ultimately called for Platner to leave the race one day after Politico published a major report earlier this month detailing rape allegations made by Jenny Racicot.
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“When we heard the serious allegations made against him, I wanted to get on the phone,” Sanders said. “I wanted to talk to him. I did. I asked, along with virtually all his supporters, that he should get out of the race, and he did.”
Democrats have since rallied behind former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson as their replacement nominee in the race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Sanders had backed Jackson in the Democratic primary for governor, but the former logger ultimately finished in third place.
“I’ve known Troy for many years,” the senator said. “What he understands is that the people of Maine are sick and tired of a rigged economy, in which the billionaire class is getting richer and richer, where we have more income and wealth inequality today than we’ve ever had in the history of this country.
“I think he stands an excellent chance to win,” Sanders added. “The problem…is that the oligarchs, the billionaire class, are throwing unbelievable amounts of money into these campaigns to protect the establishment candidates.”
When pressed by CBS anchor Margaret Brennan on whether his endorsements, including Jackson and Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed, were properly vetted, the Vermont Independent admitted they might not be.
“There are hundreds of candidates. I don’t know who has been ‘fully vetted,’” Sanders replied.
“The candidates that we are supporting are standing up for the working class of this country,” he continued. “I and other progressives … are generating enormous grassroots excitement and enthusiasm.”
