United States Senate election in Maine, 2008

United States Senate election in Maine, 2008

2002 ← November 4, 2008 → 2014

Nominee Susan Collins Tom Allen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 444,300 279,510 Percentage 61.33% 38.58%

County Results

Senator before election Susan Collins Republican Elected Senator Susan Collins Republican

The 2008 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins won re-election. She won all of Maine's counties including the ones Allen represented as a congressman.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Allen, U.S. Congressman
• Thomas Ledue, educator

Results

2008 Maine U.S. Senate Democratic primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Tom Allen	69,932	85.6
	Democratic	Tom Ledue	11,795	14.4
Turnout			81,727

Campaign

Allen tried to connect Collins to George W. Bush, but these tactics failed as Collins maintained her image as a moderate, independent Republican. She obtained an endorsement from Independent and former Democrat U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman.^[1]

Predictions

CQ Politics rated this race as 'Leans Republican'.^[2] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Republican'.^[3] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party'.^[4] UpFront Politics listed the race as 'Leans Republican'. Swing State Project listed the race as "Likely Republican." The Hotline's Senate Rankings showed the Maine Senate race fall from 7th- to 11th-most competitive senate race in the country.

Polling

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 - September 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-March 9, 2008	31%	54%
Critical Insights	October 12-October 30, 2007	34%	54%
Survey USA	October 26-October 29, 2007	38%	55%
Research 2000/Daily Kos	October 15-October 17, 2007	33%	56%

Results

2008 Maine U.S. Senate general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	'Susan Collins'	444,300	61.33	+2.9
	Democratic	Tom Allen	279,510	38.58	-3.0
		write-ins	620	0.09	n/a
Majority			164,790
Turnout			724,430
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. ^ Lieberman Backs Susan Collins, Gives $5K To Her Re-election Campaign - CBS News
2. ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics
3. ^ 2008 Senate Race Ratings The Cook Political Report, October 8, 2008
4. ^ 2008 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, September 29, 2008

External links

• Elections Division from the Maine Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Maine at Project Vote Smart
• Maine, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
• Maine U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
• Maine U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Collins vs Allen graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• ME-Sen: Baseline poll kos, DailyKos, October 22, 2007
• A Lopsided Senate Lineup Charlie Cook, Cook Political January 20, 2007
• Official campaign websites
  • Susan Collins, Republican nominee
  • Tom Allen, Democratic nominee
  • Herbert Hoffman, independent candidate
  • Tom Ledue, failed Democratic candidate
  • Laurie Dobson for US Senate, Independent