'Fascinating': Erin Burnett taken aback as Senate candidate's stunning posts unearthed

CNN anchor Erin Burnett was taken aback on Thursday by a KFile report that revealed deleted social media posts in which a rising star in the Democrat Party once called himself a "communist," said all police are "b-------," and described people who live in rural America as "racist" and "stupid."

Graham Platner, an oyster farmer running for Senate in Maine against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), made several inflammatory social media posts, according to the report. He told KFile that the post no longer reflects his views on a range of issues.

"This is so fascinating," Burnett said on her show, "Erin Burnett OutFront" on Thursday. "Not only what you found, but also that he responded to you in detail."

CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski told Burnett that KFile found posts going back at least five years. Kaczynski said they reflect the "authenticity" that Platner has infused in his campaign, and a wide range of left-wing views that could be "costly" with voters "in a state known for electing moderates."