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I have fond memories of Maine. Now I cringe at how ugly the state’s politics are becoming.
This is what happens when anti-Israel candidates like Graham Platner inject themselves into a political campaign. Out of 1.4 million Mainers, Platner is the best candidate Democrats can come up with to challenge Sen. Susan Collins?

Like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Platner is an articulate speaker who appeals to those who yearn for a more just and equitable society. How can he accomplish that when he verbally stomps on American Jews like myself? Platner has a right, and even a duty, to criticize Israel when he deems it in the wrong, but his attacks are one-sided. While he cries “genocide” by Israel, did he ever demand that Hamas release Israeli hostages prior to the recent ceasefire?

I want Democrats to control the Senate as much as Platner’s most dedicated supporters, but his victory would be too high a price. Due to anger with the Republicans, I believe that Democrats can win a majority of the Senate without Maine’s help.

I am not underestimating Democratic hopefuls in a half-dozen or more states, like North Carolina, Iowa, Alaska, Ohio and Florida.

I hope that a sensible independent candidate is able to enter the race as an alternate to Platner and Collins, but if it remains a head-to-head race between the two, I will contribute to Collins’ campaign. If it came to it, I would rather have a Republican majority in the Senate than a candidate like Platner.

Bruce Ticker
Philadelphia, Pa.