24 DAILY NEWS – One of the most enduring points of contention between the Democratic Party’s left and right wings is “vote blue no matter who,” a demand almost exclusively made of progressives to shelve principle over party in elections. However, as the midterms approach in a year marked by dissatisfaction among the base, centrists are now facing that same expectation directed at them—a development that has sparked concern.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, encountered this reality earlier this week. During a CNN interview on Monday, he expressed a desire for Maine voters to reject Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Senate, based on his controversial tattoo, which Auchincloss described as “personally disqualifying.” Critics quickly interpreted this as a tacit endorsement of Sen. Susan Collins, the moderate Republican incumbent who has long frustrated Democrats.
By Tuesday afternoon, Auchincloss revised his statements on social media, asserting that he did not intend to endorse any candidate. “If it were
