A new independent poll from the University of Massachusetts Lowell shows Democratic front-runner Graham Platner with a 5-point lead over Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

But the survey of 650 voters was conducted before last weekend’s reports about Platner texting sexually explicit messages to several women after getting married in 2023.

Platner’s campaign released an internal poll Wednesday showing the candidate maintained a 4-point lead after the stories broke.

But Platner’s lead in both his internal poll and the survey from UMass Lowell are nearly equal to the polls’ margins of error.

The UMass Lowell poll, conducted from May 13-26, found that voters preferred Platner, 48% to 43%, with 6% undecided. The survey had a 4.9% margin of error.

“There are worrying signs for both major, active candidates,” said John Cluverius, director of the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion.

“For Collins, a bad economy and historically unpopular president are making the road to reelection extremely bumpy, ” he said. “Although Platner slightly leads in the poll, he’s less well known than Collins, which makes voters more persuadable as new information comes out about him.”

Forty-three percent viewed the oyster farmer and combat veteran favorably, while 41% viewed him unfavorably. For Collins, those figures were 36% and 53%, respectively.

Platner is getting more support from women (54% to 35%), while Collins is winning with men, 51% to 35%.

Platner has led by an average of 7.4 points, according to the polling aggregator Real Clear Polling. But surveys in 2020 underestimated Collins, who won reelection despite trailing in numerous surveys.

Platner became the presumptive Democratic nominee when Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign in late April after trailing in fundraising and by double digits in most independent polling.

Mills’ name is still on the June 9 primary ballot and votes for her will still count.

Long-shot David Costello, a former government worker from Brunswick, is also on the Democratic ballot. And Andrea LaFlamme, an adjunct college professor and union organizer, is running as a write-in candidate.