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New Graham Platner Ad Comes Out SWINGING Against Collins

2026-05-07 News & Politics
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Description

Sam Stein and Lauren Egan give their takes on the first ads from Maine Senate candidates Graham Platner and Susan Collins. The two campaigns couldn’t be more different. Platner comes out aggressively, launching a hard-hitting populist message that goes straight at Collins’ record and frames the race as part of a broader fight over power, Trump, and the direction of the country. Meanwhile, Susan Collins responds with a very different strategy: a nostalgic, local-focused ad centered on a decade-old infrastructure win in Maine. Sam and Lauren dig into what these opening ads reveal about each campaign’s theory of the race, whether Collins’ long-standing strengths still hold in today’s environment, and how Platner is betting that going on offense early will define her before she can define him. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://ZocDoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. Bulwark Live: California tickets are on sale now! Sarah and gang return to sunny Southern California for two nights May 20 & 21. For details and tickets go to https://TheBulwark.com/Events. Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@exiledfrommyself 2026-05-07

No one cares about a politician softening their image heading into the general election. People are hungry for politicians who appear authentic and say what they actually believe.

757 23 replies
@Bob_Belcher69 2026-05-07

Every GOP member is complicit in the epstein coverup at this point.

581 33 replies
@cronizle 2026-05-07

Nah, older liberal woman who watched their reproductive rights get lost aren't going to give Susan a pass. Her vague platitudes about protecting it was what held her in place.

529 20 replies
@angiefryer6345 2026-05-07

He’s tapped in the zeitgeist. This is where the electorate is. Angry and wanting to fight.

325 7 replies
@zengamer21 2026-05-08

That Platner ad is amazing. We need nothing less than that until we get all these weak and pathetic losers out of congress.

159
@harryravenkiller8580 2026-05-08

You guys get it all wrong. Platner is not "starting out with foreign policy " he is pointing out a huge dishonesty and how the Susan Collins in the senate are part of it.

117 3 replies
@macdisciple 2026-05-08

We are angry. We need angry politicians.

85
@GoldenStride 2026-05-08

I love the ad! It’s about time someone brought the heat for Dems!

83
@rearymorris6384 2026-05-08

Susan Collins was the reason we have the most unqualified, criminal Cabinet in history. She confirmed this chaos.

80 4 replies
@manyeyedcrow9391 2026-05-08

This is not trashing Susan Collins. That would have been attacking her personally. It was trashing her complicity in the things Trumps does, which is both true and entirely fair.

63 2 replies

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