Earlier this week, Graham Platner was able to overcome various scandals and cruise to victory in The Pine Tree State's Democratic senatorial primary.
Despite his controversial Nazi tattoo and revelations about his personal conduct, including his relationships with women, his party stood behind him, setting up a showdown between Platner and unopposed Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the fall.
Nick Adolphsen, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, tells AFN his first reaction is "sadness for my state that this is where we're at."
"I think many different things about this race, but probably the first is just a little heartbroken for my state that we think this is a good idea," he says.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night in the small town where he was born, Platner, an oyster farmer and combat veteran, stressed a message of redemption as he promised to oust Collins.
Adolphsen understands that no one is perfect and believes everyone can have an "incredible redemption story through the gospel."
"But redemption doesn't nullify the need to have a moral compass," Adolphsen adds. "The idea of redemption or forgiveness does not nullify that you have to be still responsible; you still have to have a set of values."
For the first time in his life, he understands why the Left has gone so hard after men and masculinity.
"This is the kind of man that they believe is worth elevating," he laments. "It's given me new insight … into the Left's perspective."
But Adolphsen thinks Collins will remain in office.
"While I disagree with her on significant issues around life and some of the family values issues, she has been a consistent voice for the state of Maine, and ultimately, I think they will re-elect her," he says.
He calls Maine kind of like a microcosm of the rest of the country.
"We're very divided; we say there's two Maines," Adolphsen relays. "There's the southern, coastal Maine that tends to vote very progressive, and then there's inland Maine with our blue-collar folks, and they vote much more along the lines of conservative values, family values. They still value work; they still kind of value the Maine that made Susan Collins, and I think we'll see that side of Maine stay true."
He predicts the fight will be in some of the progressive coastal regions.
And if almost half of Maine's voting population chooses to vote for "somebody who seems like he has yet to get his own life figured out," Adolphsen wonders, "Where does that leave us as a state?"
First elected in 1996, Susan Collins believes her experience and key position as chair of the powerful appropriations committee are two major reasons why voters should send her back to the U.S. Senate.
