Democrat blasted by left and right after softening stance on scandal-hit Maine candidate

By Fox News · Fox News

A House Democrat drew backlash from across the political spectrum after appearing to soften his criticism of Graham Platner, Democrats’ presumptive Maine Senate nominee. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., initially sparked outrage on the left when he denounced Platner’s Nazi-linked tattoo and said, "I hope Maine voters agree with me." But after clarifying he was not endorsing Platner’s opponent, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine — while also backing away from his earlier call for Maine voters to oppose Platner — Auchincloss found himself under fire from both sides. Platner has faced mounting scrutiny since disclosing last year that he once had a black skull-and-crossbones tattoo, which he said he got while drinking on leave during a Marine deployment in Croatia and did not recognize at the time as a Nazi symbol. GRAHAM PLATNER BLAMES NAZI TATTOO ON MILITARY ‘CULTURE,’ DRAWS BACKLASH FROM GOP VETERANS "Susan Collins is a rubber stamp for the worst admin in history. Claims that I would endorse her, implicitly or otherwise, ignore my track record supporting Democrats to take back both chambers," Auchincloss wrote on social media Tuesday. "As I said months ago, I find Platner's Nazi tattoo and his commentary about it personally disqualifying. If it were me, I'd vote for someone else in the Maine Democratic primary." "Regardless of what happens in Maine, Democrats need to take back the Senate, and I'll keep working hard to make it happen," he added. Leftist journalist Peter Beinart griped, "This is totally incoherent. The race is between Platner and Collins." "If @JakeAuch opposes them both, then he doesn't care if Maine elects a Democratic senator," he went on. "And if he doesn't care if Maine elects a Democratic senator, he doesn't care very much about Democrats taking the Senate." Progressive commentator Rachel Bitecofer mocked Auchincloss, a Jewish Democrat, for focusing on Platner’s tattoo resembling a Nazi design instead of discussing what she described as "actual policy N…