WATCH: Dem senator says Platner's struggles speak to ‘regular people’ amid backlash over resurfaced posts

By Fox News · Fox News

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is sticking by Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, claiming voters are resonating with his "regular people" struggles. It comes as Democrats face pressure over whether to distance themselves from Platner over resurfaced Reddit posts belittling a U.S. soldier and making crude sexual remarks about masturbation. The controversy threatens Democrats' chances of flipping Maine’s Republican-held seat to try to regain control of the Senate. "It seems like the people of Maine like the fact that he's talking about the struggles that regular people are going through," Murphy told Fox News Digital when confronted about the controversy. "And don't like the fact that their current senator seems to be empowering a pretty corrupt agenda in this administration," he added. VETS TORCH DEM SENATE HOPEFUL WHO CALLED ARMY ‘FAT, LAZY TRASH,’ MOCKED SOLDIER SHOT FOUR TIMES Murphy, who has not yet formally endorsed him as a candidate, was asked whether he would rescind his support for Platner give the thousands of now-deleted Reddit posts. "I’m supporting him," the Connecticut senator told Fox News Digital. Before Platner’s troubling past came to light, Murphy referred to his progressive campaign as "killer" and said the candidate "seems pretty impressive." When asked whether he would continue backing the Democratic candidate, Murphy first deflected by pointing to Platner’s polling numbers. "What’s the polling in Maine right now?" Murphy asked, adding: "I think he’s still winning, right?" DESPITE INFLAMMATORY COMMENTS, PLATNER HOLDS 9-POINT LEAD OVER COLLINS IN NEW POLL A new public opinion poll shows Platner currently leading over Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who was first elected in 1996 and is the longest-serving Republican female senator. Platner stands at 51% support among likely Maine voters, with Collins at 42%, according to a Pine Tree State poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire. But she's pulled through when polling odds have…