When Democrats discover a scandal involving one of their own, the first response is often to circle the wagons, attack the messenger and change the subject.
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So Sen. Cory Booker’s recent comments about Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner stood out.
Appearing Sunday on ABC’s This Week, Booker was asked about the growing list of controversies surrounding Platner, who until recently was considered one of Democrats’ best hopes for unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Rather than offering a vigorous defense, Booker acknowledged that he had “concerns” about the candidate.
Platner’s problems have piled up quickly. Reports have surfaced about sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to multiple women while he was married, and old online posts have generated scrutiny for inflammatory comments. And in the potentially most damaging incident, a tattoo resembling a Nazi-associated symbol that Platner later covered up.
Democrats have responded with a mix of discomfort, silence or rationalization.
Some, such as Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, have argued that the tattoo issue alone is disqualifying and that Democrats should not apply a different standard to their own candidates than they would to Republicans.
Others have largely avoided the subject, declining opportunities to defend Platner, though not calling for him to withdraw.
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Others are OK with overlooking the controversies because they believe defeating Collins is more important than the candidate’s personal baggage.
Booker’s comments are interesting because he didn’t defend Platner, didn’t say the accusations were overblown and didn’t slam reporters for raising questions. He might have been providing Platner with an exit ramp.
Booker’s comments may not signal that Democrats are abandoning Platner now, but could indicate that some party leaders are starting to calculate whether the political cost of supporting him is greater than the benefit of keeping him in the race.
Susan Collins has always been a “Northeast Republican” who is more likely to stray from GOP policy to hold on to swing voters — and she’s scandal-free. The left will drop him before the election, but they may have already done themselves in by sticking with him this long.
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