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![]() County results Collins: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Maine |
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The 2008 United States Senate election in Maine took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins won re-election to a third term against Democrat Tom Allen, the U.S. Congressman from the 1st district.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Allen | 69,932 | 85.6% | |
Democratic | Tom Ledue | 11,795 | 14.4% | |
Total votes | 81,727 | 100.0% |
Allen tried to tie Collins to George W. Bush, but these tactics failed as Collins maintained her image as a very popular, moderate, independent Republican. She obtained an endorsement from Independent and former Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. [1]
When Collins was first elected in 1996 she pledged to serve only two terms (twelve years) in office, which would have been up in 2008. She instead decided to seek a third term, and defeated Allen with over 60% of the vote. She was the only Republican Senate candidate to win in 2008 in a state that was simultaneously won by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report [2] | Likely R | October 23, 2008 |
CQ Politics [3] | Lean R | October 31, 2008 |
Rothenberg Political Report [4] | Likely R | November 2, 2008 |
Real Clear Politics [5] | Likely R | November 1, 2008 |
Poll source | Dates administered | Tom Allen (D) | Susan Collins (R) |
---|---|---|---|
Rasmussen Reports | November 1, 2008 | 41% | 57% |
Survey USA | October 20, 2008 | 43% | 54% |
Rasmussen Reports | October 2, 2008 | 43% | 53% |
Survey USA | September 22–23, 2008 | 39% | 55% |
Rasmussen Reports | September 17, 2008 | 42% | 55% |
Rasmussen Reports | August 12, 2008 | 40% | 55% |
Rasmussen Reports | July 17, 2008 | 42% | 49% |
Pan Atlantic SMS Group | June 18, 2008 | 31% | 56% |
Rasmussen Reports | June 16, 2008 | 42% | 49% |
Rasmussen Reports | May 14, 2008 | 42% | 52% |
Rasmussen Reports | April 1, 2008 | 38% | 54% |
McLaughlin & Associates/ Coalition for a Democratic Workforce | March 6–9, 2008 | 31% | 54% |
Critical Insights | October 12–30, 2007 | 34% | 54% |
Survey USA | October 26–29, 2007 | 38% | 55% |
Research 2000/Daily Kos | October 15–17, 2007 | 33% | 56% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Susan Collins (incumbent) | 444,300 | 61.33% | +2.9% | |
Democratic | Tom Allen | 279,510 | 38.58% | -3.0% | |
Write-in | 620 | 0.09% | n/a | ||
Total votes | 724,430 | 100.00% | n/a | ||
Republican hold | |||||
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