Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing criticism on multiple fronts as his campaign deals with controversies over past statements and language use.

Platner recently apologized for using a derogatory term during an interview where he was addressing what has been described as a tattoo controversy. The apology came after the offensive language drew public criticism.

Separately, the candidate is facing backlash over resurfaced comments from Reddit that reportedly praised tactics used by Hamas in a 2014 incident involving Israelis. The comments have drawn scrutiny as they surface during his Senate campaign.

Platner is described as a progressive candidate in what is being characterized as an important Senate race for Democrats. The controversies come as the party seeks to maintain or expand its presence in the U.S. Senate.

The timing of these revelations could potentially impact Platner's standing in the Democratic primary or general election, though the full political ramifications remain to be seen. Maine has been considered a competitive state in recent Senate elections.

Neither Platner's campaign nor Democratic Party officials have provided detailed responses to the broader pattern of controversial statements beyond the apology for the offensive language use.