As a general rule, our opinion section stops publishing letters of endorsement from readers several days ahead of an election. This allows for some breathing room before the polls open and ensures nobody is unduly influenced by a late surge in praise or scorn for one or other candidate.

Owing to the recent breaking news on the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, however — and the volume of letters received overnight about Graham Platner’s candidacy — we’re bending that policy a bit. Here’s a selection of what we’ve received from readers. We’ll update this until it begins to feel, well, undue.

— Siobhán Brett, opinion editor

Shame on the scandal-hungry press

Recent press coverage about candidate Graham Platner, even by the New York Times, reminds this 90-year-old of old-time graffiti on public men’s room walls, of (oft misspelled) four-letter words and primitive, lewd drawings.

Shame on the Times (and, alas, this paper too) for giving this low-taste material front page coverage. Apparently no other negatives can be found of further alleged misdeeds of the candidate. This should only convince thoughtful readers of Graham’s decency — and electability.

Paul Kando
Damariscotta

What more do we need?

In response to the front-page article on Senate candidate Graham Platner (June 5), I’m exhausted already by the negative press.

I am not minimizing the claims of old girlfriends nor of Platner’s dark past. But I ask, is any of it truly important to his Senate campaign? I know not a single person who is perfect or does not have a skeleton or two in their closet. Knock on any door and everyone has a story to tell.

I want to know who Platner is now, why he wants to be our senator, what he is going to do once he gets to the Senate. Platner has never hidden who he is and the troubles he had after returning home from war. He made mistakes and admitted them. Did he learn and grow from those mistakes? He has said he has, throughout his campaign.

Platner has said he loves Maine and wants to represent all of us in the Senate, not just the rich. Time and again, he has specified solutions to many problems. What more do we need? For me, Mr. Platner represents hope for the future of Maine, which is exactly what we need. In my opinion, Mr. Platner is who Maine needs now in the Senate.

Mary Caliandro
Long Island, Maine

A veteran’s trauma must not be overlooked

The attacks against Graham Platner have started to ramp up.

Collins’ strategy is that she must go heavy to disparage Platner. His early lead was disconcerting, and she has millions of dollars to work on creating fear and doubt.

Platner did three tours of duty as a Marine in Iraq and one with the Maryland Army National Guard in Afghanistan and he experienced the trauma that comes with war. Platner saw friends wounded or killed, which does not easily get lost in one’s memory. Many of the veterans from World War II would not talk about the travails and horrors that they experienced. A friend who was a medic in Vietnam retrieved bodies of pilots and soldiers who died in helicopter crashes. He will not speak about what he felt or endured during those moments.

The attack against Platner is reminiscent of the infamous “Swift Boat” attacks that were generated against John Kerry. Kerry had the possibility of winning and needed to be derailed. Platner’s experience in Iraq and Afghanistan was challenging for him and for many others.

Is it OK to just dismiss these moments from “the fog of war” for Kerry, Platner or thousands of other military men and women? I can’t imagine what those psychological impacts were on veterans. Platner hasn’t dodged the issues. Sen. Susan Collins, never having experienced the horrors of war, death and mental trauma, seems content to be part of MAGA; Trump’s premise is that military casualties are “suckers” and “losers.”

Ironically, Collins is “weaponizing” war stories on Platner to boost her credentials.

David Hyde
Pownal

Heaven help Maine

Maine voters have my deepest sympathy. Margaret Chase Smith and Ed Muskie are spinning in their graves.

Barry Jackson
Mesa, Arizona

Follow questions about Platner with questions about Kavanaugh, about Trump

During this campaign, any time Sen. Susan Collins — or any Republican — raises the issue of allegations about Graham Platner’s poor treatment of girlfriends in his past, Democrats should respond by asking about Sen. Collins’ vote in favor of Brett Kavanaugh after reports of his attempted rape in college, and Sen. Collins’ support of President Trump after his recorded comments about women (“Grab them by the p*ssy. You can do anything.”), or a jury finding him liable of sexual assault of E. Jean Carroll, as well as the numerous sexual misconduct and assault claims against the president by other women.

Jonathan Marr
Niskayuna, New York

From California, with bewilderment

As a voter here on the opposite coast, I have a query: Is the state of Maine seeking to elect a U.S. senator, or to canonize a saint?

Kurt Muller
Rancho Palos Verde, California

We need the young people and we need the anger

I have done some canvassing for Graham Platner. Is the latest information, which should have remained private, going to stop me from voting for him? It is not.

I believe in what he cares about, especially healthcare for all. My husband and I ran Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Maine, for 21 years. We felt that all our employees deserved and needed health insurance. We provided it for three full-time workers but could not for the people who worked for just part of the year. Ever since, I have wanted healthcare for all.

I went to one of Platner’s town halls, not a huge rally of cheering people but a more intimate gathering where, after speaking, he opened himself to difficult questions which he answered.

There is another reason I am for Graham Platner. I have canvassed on a few Saturdays: before Janet Mills’ gubernatorial elections, before midterms, before the recent vote on keeping vote by mail available. I am 83 years old. During my past canvasses, other people working were my age or a little younger. The people I have met canvassing for Platner are younger than I am by a little — or by a lot.

Platner has inspired hundreds younger people to get involved. We need that if we are going to recover our democracy from Trump and his billionaire supporters. Graham is angry, which is what everyone should be, about the corruption and the destruction of our democratic institutions.

Priscilla Markley
Winthrop

Peccadilloes pushed out politics and we are the poorer

Every day in this newspaper there are several reminders of Graham Platner’s peccadilloes. Some come in letters, but many come from reporters and columnists. As a result, superficial readers have inferred that he is an abuser and an undependable potential senator.

Unfortunately, and to this paper’s discredit, almost no discussion of Platner’s politics is to be found here. When Platner holds a town hall, which is almost daily, we hear about the large crowd and not about the content. Why are Maine citizens so excited to hear what Platner is saying?

I do not believe that the Press Herald and the Bangor Daily News will succeed in helping to defeat Graham Platner, but our state would be better served by attention to the issues rather than to the candidate’s checkered past.

Paul Kalkstein
Arrowsic

Still time for a change

I understand that Sen. Susan Collins misled us Mainers from the beginning when she pledged to only serve two terms. Collins continues to do so to this day, all too frequently allowing our current president to stain the very fabric of our democracy. It’s time for a change.

Bob Mennealy
Auburn

A wiser country would be above this spectacle

I am exhausted. I am tired. And I am angered at the waste of newsprint devoted to the turbulent dating life of Graham Platner.

I don’t actually care who he dated or if he was rough or gentle. I know nothing about Sen. Susan Collins’ amorous activities or indeed if she’s ever had any.

But I do care about votes taken, policy positions held and allegiance to political allies and adversaries. Wiser countries ignore the bedroom activities of their politicians.

We have had ineffectual presidents who were paragons of marital virtue: Jimmy Carter. We have had presidents who shared their beds with men: Lincoln. We have had presidents who conducted policy discussions from the toilet: LBJ. We have had first ladies who may have had lesbian affairs: Eleanor Roosevelt. We have had presidents who were serially unfaithful: JFK. And we have had presidents who were alleged alcoholics: Nixon. And we have had first ladies who needed to go to rehab: Betty Ford. All these things are footnotes to history.

We send men and women to war and expect them to be gentle kittens upon return, having gone through hell at the behest of imperial presidents.

I voted for Graham Platner and will do so again. Meek and mild men don’t make good soldiers or effective leaders. Sen. Collins has been meek and mild, diligent in her attendance and ineffectual and listless in representing us. She is well past expiration date and retirement age.

Michael Thorne
Fryeburg

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Platner is not the man for the job

People call Graham Platner’s words and actions, including “sexting” with women as a newlywed, “controversies.” Action and words are behaviors, not controversies, though they may be controversial.

Others call Platner’s behaviors “issues” when they are symptoms of one issue, which he has described frequently. An emotional disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can develop after a person is traumatized. Symptoms are many and they vary, depending on the person, their history, the stress and other factors.

Platner’s symptoms, described in news articles over months, all appear hostile and inappropriate, such as his answer on Reddit to a user who asked why he enlisted in the military several times: “To have an adventure and kill some people.” This is a highly disturbing answer, even if meant as a joke.

Platner has written hostile things about Black people, rural dwellers and women. “Sexting” with women as a newlywed is hostile. One voter interviewed recently said that because Platner’s wife forgave him, she would too. Platner isn’t running to be her or our husband, however, but to represent Maine for six stressful, demanding years. If elected, Republicans will be constantly chasing him, nipping at his already exposed Achilles heel. His poor impulse control would put him at a huge disadvantage.

Platner has shown little success other than his service to our country, for which we should be grateful. Although his well-to-do family sent him to an excellent school, he was asked to leave. He started college twice and dropped out. He has no political experience, never held state or national office. I agree with his positions (most Democrats do), but that doesn’t qualify him anymore than it does us.

We have two experienced, competent Democrats on the ballot. Please vote for one, and wish Mr. Platner health and happiness.

Louise Davis, APRN
Portland

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It takes courage to make amends

In a world where our politicians, male and female, hide and deny their transgressions, refusing to deal with them, Graham Platner shows us another way.

Platner admitted his mistakes and corrected them. He and his wife sought therapy. He has faced his shadow side and moved on to become a much more aware and conscious human being. This is not easy. It takes courage. His example is a good one to follow. He is the kind of leader we need.

Toni Merrick
South Freeport

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