Portnoy Absolutely Wrecks Platner’s Campaign After They Asked Him to Play Footsy With Nazi-Tattooed Dem
RedState
Last updated: May 25, 2026
Sports personality Dave Portnoy publicly rebuked the campaign of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner after being approached for commentary on the Boston Red Sox. Portnoy accused Platner's team, particularly strategist Jeff Coote, of attempting to associate him with a candidate he labeled a "Nazi" due to a controversial tattoo.
- Portnoy, known for his direct and outspoken nature, refused to engage with Platner's campaign on their proposed topic of Red Sox ownership. Instead, he challenged Platner to a one-on-one discussion specifically about his association with Nazi symbolism, exemplified by his Totenkopf tattoo.
- Platner's campaign initially sought Portnoy's support for an ad criticizing the Red Sox's ties to private equity, framing it as a reflection of Platner's "populist streak."
- Portnoy's strong rejection highlighted his Jewish heritage and his refusal to engage with someone he perceived as promoting Nazi ideology, stating, "You reached out to a Jew to poo-poo a Nazi."
- The article details further controversial statements attributed to Platner, including victim-blaming, homophobic remarks, denigrating rural white Americans, and most recently, offensive comments about a wounded U.S. Army soldier.
- Platner reportedly did not apologize for his remarks regarding the soldier and avoided addressing the tattoo when confronted by the media, yet his campaign sought Portnoy's input on baseball.
