Are the new Graham Platner allegations a ‘CAMPAIGN ENDER'?

[0:00] We're following new allegations this morning against embattled Democratic Senate candidate [0:04] Graham Plattner. The New York Times spoke with several of Plattner's ex-girlfriends, [0:08] some of whom claimed the main politician was, quote, volatile and toxic during their time [0:12] together. The Times writes, Plattner could be charming and charismatic, they recalled in [0:16] interviews, but also demeaning to women and in at least one case, even physically threatening. [0:21] One of Plattner's ex-girlfriends who has worked for conservative groups [0:24] recounted their relationship from 2013 to 2015. Quote, [0:28] Plattner could be rough with her, she said, particularly when they were drinking, [0:32] leaving her shaken and sometimes afraid. She was quick to note that he never hit me, [0:36] he never punched me. But she said he regularly grabbed her by the shoulder, sometimes hard [0:40] enough to leave marks, and on one occasion yanked her out of a cab by her wrist after an argument [0:45] when she wanted to stay in the car. It's important to note the Times also spoke with several other [0:50] former girlfriends who gave a different account of Plattner, referring to him as, quote, a gentle [0:54] giant and super kind. Plattner himself joined MS Now last night for an exclusive interview to address [1:00] the story. There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about [1:08] are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, [1:16] these are the statements of someone who's politically motivated. In this piece, there's a lot about my [1:22] struggling, not being a good boyfriend, certainly self-medicating with alcohol. And I've been very [1:27] upfront since the beginning of this campaign that that was a pretty dark period of my life after I [1:31] came back from my combat service. And that's what that combat, that's what that kind of life looks [1:38] like. And so there are things in this that I absolutely will take responsibility for and have [1:45] been speaking about openly for months now. But those serious allegations are just not true. [1:50] This is just one of the big stories we've been following all week. We'll break it down with our [1:55] panel, co-host of the Nobody Knows Anything podcast and former spokesperson for the Clinton [1:59] campaign, Jesse Larrick. Also with us, Republican strategist Ashley Davis. She worked at the White [2:03] House as Homeland Security Director in the George W. Bush administration. Thank you both for ending the [2:09] week with us. I think first we start with you, Jesse, on this question of Graham Plattner. You knew it [2:13] had to come to you. It's so nice that I'm not explaining something right now. I feel like Republicans often [2:18] have enough to explain. We'll get there. But look, I think for Democrats, I have heard two [2:23] things. And I wonder where you fall on this. I've heard from Democrats who say that this is a smear [2:28] campaign meant to come before the primary in an election that Democrats have been thirsty to unseat [2:33] Susan Collins in. And then I've also heard from Democrats who say this is really serious and the [2:38] party needs to adjudicate it, despite the fact that they feel he could be a good opportunity to flip [2:43] the Collins seat. I mean, where do you fall on this? How do we make sense of it? [2:46] I mean, I think it's unfair to just call it a smear campaign. I think it's clear that there are [2:51] questions about his character and his credibility. And this adds to that. It's an uncomfortable [2:56] situation for Democrats. Obviously, this is a must-win seat. The entire control of the Senate [3:02] might hinge on this race. So I understand why Democrats are loathe to throw him under the bus. [3:08] And at this point in the race, at the same time, I think we have to acknowledge that he has a [3:14] credibility problem that's building at this point. I didn't find his interview with Chris Hayes [3:19] terribly affirming last night. He didn't seem super contrite. So I worry about it. Still, [3:26] I would say I don't think a charismatic adulterer with a drinking problem is a novel profile for a [3:33] U.S. senator, unfortunately. Yeah. But at the same time, right, in an election cycle, and I have had [3:38] Democrats say this to me as well, Ashley, in an election cycle where Democrats will make a ton of [3:43] hay, rightfully so, about Ken Paxton and his history in Texas, what do you make of the main [3:49] profile that Graham Plattner is cutting right now? And I think you're right. There are Democrats who [3:54] say, well, if voters don't care, how can we be the ones to adjudicate this? But for Democrats, [3:58] they're kind of testing how big is the tent. And for Republicans watching, what are they making of it? [4:02] And we were talking about this in the green room because Swalwell was out [4:06] almost instantly when his allegations, but they were different. They were much different. [4:11] I don't think this is a campaign ender for him at all. I mean, this article was supposed to be [4:17] devastating. Obviously, it's not good. But if I'm reading that and I'm leaving a man, I'm like, [4:21] oh, he's got mad ex-girlfriends too, and see if it's right or wrong. I mean, whether it's correct [4:26] or not, or they're just ex-girlfriends. But he's explaining. And the problem is, is it's a drip, [4:33] drip, drip, drip, drip of negative stories about him? And he doesn't want to be explaining right [4:38] now. He wants to be attacking Susan Collins, right? Yeah. And she's kind of like low drama. [4:43] So for her, Maine's probably like... There was a really fascinating split [4:49] screen, I thought, last night of Plattner. Yeah, of Plattner here explaining on this story [4:54] and Susan Collins being congratulated for taking her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate. [4:59] And I wonder if you're... That's going to be a campaign ad, I'm sure. [5:03] Right? I mean, but you know what these campaigns look like. I mean, what does this story turn into? [5:08] Even if this is the last shoe to drop, and I think many of us have been warned by [5:11] various strategists of there's more to come, there's more to come. If this is the drip, [5:16] drip, drip, what it looks like through November, what is the state of play then in Maine? [5:20] See, I have always felt that she survived. She survives every time. She... Her... The only thing she cares [5:27] about right or wrong, whether she's a Republican, Democrat, or her constituents, she will not do [5:33] anything. And that's been her reputation. I always thought that that's going to be a really hard seat [5:38] to flip. And then Democrats at the same time are saying, well, Trump, with all of his allegations [5:44] and scandals attached to him, is in the White House. They're trying to say, you know, that that makes [5:49] the bar lower for someone like Plattner. And yet, these are the very things that they attack the [5:54] president or not, right? Like, it's a very complex situation for Democrats to be in. [5:58] It's definitely complex. I would say I do not think there's an equivalency between Graham Plattner and [6:02] Donald Trump or Ken Paxton. I think with both Paxton and Trump, I have a bigger problem with the [6:07] fact that they are crooks than with the fact that they are adulterers. And the last thing I'd say [6:11] about the 10,000 votes, like, I don't... I think Graham Plattner would rather be talking about populist [6:15] economic policy than his ex-girlfriends. But I don't think that he minds a split screen where Susan [6:21] Collins is being, you know, celebrated for taking her 10,000th consecutive vote. He's running very [6:26] much against, like, the establishment. And, you know, she hasn't delivered the things that [6:30] Maynards want. And so I think 10,000 votes, he's like, keep talking about that. [6:33] Yeah, and like, you're here too long. [6:34] Also, like, one of the very things that pushed what would have been Plattner's opponent in the [6:39] primary out in the minds of voters, at least, was the idea that she was... would have been the [6:44] oldest senator sworn in if she were to be elected. And it was the idea of establishment versus not. [6:49] And so I think that is going to still be a thread. You're right. [6:51] Right. And I still, like... it still bothers me that the best person that Chuck Schumer thought [6:55] that he could recruit in this moment after the Biden fiasco in 2024 was an octogenarian, [7:01] you know, a soon-to-be octogenarian sitting governor. I just don't think that's the moment [7:05] we're in. [7:06] Yeah, a misreading of the tea leaves, perhaps. [7:08] You think she gets in? I mean, back in? [7:10] I don't. I mean, I... she said the other day, you know, I'm still on the ballot. [7:14] I was like, well, then make the case. Like, I think the best-case scenario at this point is [7:18] let the Mainers vote on both of them. And so I don't understand why she wouldn't, [7:23] you know, go all the way in, this sort of 50-50 thing, where it's like, I'm on the ballot, [7:27] but I'm not really campaigning. [7:29] Main voters, I think, are fascinating. So we'll watch how they vote. And I'm interested [7:33] in hearing... we've got some folks on the ground who are going to talk to voters. I'm interested [7:36] in hearing that sound as they get it. But then the other thing that I'm watching, [7:39] if we're looking at how votes are going, is what's going on in the U.S. Senate and the Republicans [7:44] that have been willing, at least on some of these amendment votes, certainly in the House when it [7:48] comes to an Iran War Powers vote, Ukraine funding, there have been some moments of breakage for [7:55] Republicans that have been very much in the party line with the White House, now showing a little [8:00] bit of, I won't call it an independent streak, but an ability to break ranks. And I wonder what you [8:04] make of it. [8:05] Well, I think that this is because we're very close to an election. And so you can see that some of the, [8:09] depending on where these senators are from in regards to states. So you saw Ohio... [8:15] John Husted. [8:15] Yes. He voted last night with the Democrats. And then also Sullivan. He's in a tough race. So I [8:21] think it's more to do with the election coming up than it is actually Trump. But listen, Trump keeps [8:26] throwing these things in there every week, every couple of days that are just not helpful to some [8:31] of these Republicans. And whether it's the Pulte nominee or, you know, acting director, and I mean, [8:37] we can go on and on. But in the ballroom and the slush fund, I mean, but... [8:42] We could go on and on. [8:43] Yeah, exactly. So I think it's just, I don't know if it's... We'll see. I think the big break happens [8:48] after the election. [8:50] After the election, and at that point, does it help them? I mean, Republicans' fortunes are tied [8:54] to Trump here, whether they would like them to be or not. The economic numbers don't tell a great [8:58] story. Democrats can exploit that. [9:00] Yeah. I'm not terribly surprised to see this starting to happen as we get through primary season. I kind of [9:06] always, you know, these guys are survivalists above all else. And the biggest threat to their [9:10] careers until June or whenever their primary may be is Donald Trump coming in and nuking them. [9:16] And then you get through the primary, and you don't want to be bear-hugging a president that's [9:19] sitting at 35 percent approval. [9:21] Yeah. And I have been openly questioning at what point do they realize their political fortunes have [9:26] to be handled by themselves, that the president is not going to be swooping in to help them. [9:30] But I think you're right. Those who are playing with a primary calendar that skews later [9:33] just have to make different calculations as they're trying to answer that question. [9:38] We will leave it there, though I could keep going. [9:40] Jesse Larrick and Ashley Davis, thank you both for joining us to end the week.