Republican Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) on Wednesday voiced his opposition to Democratic candidate Graham Platner’s bid for Maine Sen. Susan Collins’s (R) seat.

“How in the world does this guy want to put together a working-class coalition?” Scott told Fox News. “It’s impossible, impossible for us to let him win. Thank God President Trump fights every single day for the American people. Let’s join his fight by winning.”

The GOP senator said it is “clear” that Platner does not like certain demographics of Americans, including Black and Jewish people.

“Even more clear, he has been disrespectful towards rural white folks,” the Republican lawmaker continued. “I was in Maine recently, 95 percent-plus rural white folks. He says they are stupid.”

The South Carolina senator appeared to reference the Democratic candidate’s controversial social media posts from several years ago, in which he said white rural Americans “actually are” racist and stupid and called himself a “communist,” according to reporting from CNN’s KFILE.

Platner disavowed these comments, saying he was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder at the time.

“That was me trying to get a rise out of people on the Internet,” Platner told Tommy Vietor on “Pod Save America.” “Those weren’t even reflective of my opinions back then.”

The Democrat also said he covered up a chest tattoo after receiving criticism that it resembled a Nazi symbol.

The Democrat rose above Collins in a in a new poll from Pan Atlantic Research. Forty-eight percent indicated support for the Marine veteran and oyster farmer, compared to the 41 percent who were in favor of the incumbent Republican.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and several labor unions have endorsed the Democratic candidate’s Senate bid.

Platner will compete against Democratic candidate David Costello in the state’s primary on June 9, after Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign due to a lack of funding. The winner of the Democratic primary will run against Collins in the November election.

Collins has served in the U.S. Senate since 1997, and she is seen as a more moderate voice among Republicans in the upper chamber of Congress.

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