2008 United States Senate election in Maine

2008 United States Senate election in Maine
	Collins: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Allen: 50–60% 60–70%
U.S. senator before election; Susan Collins; Republican	Elected U.S. Senator ; Susan Collins; Republican

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Tom Allen, U.S. Representative
Thomas Ledue, educator

Results

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Allen	69,932	85.6%
	Democratic	Tom Ledue	11,795	14.4%
Total votes			81,727	100.0%

General election

Campaign

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.

Predictions

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

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Tom Allen (D)	Susan Collins (R)
Rasmussen Reports^[6]	November 1, 2008	41%	57%
Survey USA^[7]	October 20, 2008	43%	54%
Rasmussen Reports^[8]	October 2, 2008	43%	53%
Survey USA^[9]	September 22–23, 2008	39%	55%
Rasmussen Reports^[10]	September 17, 2008	42%	55%
Rasmussen Reports^[11]	August 12, 2008	40%	55%
Rasmussen Reports^[12]	July 17, 2008	42%	49%
Pan Atlantic SMS Group^[13]	June 18, 2008	31%	56%
Rasmussen Reports^[14]	June 16, 2008	42%	49%
Rasmussen Reports^[15]	May 14, 2008	42%	52%
Rasmussen Reports^[16]	April 1, 2008	38%	54%
McLaughlin & Associates/ Coalition for a Democratic Workforce^[17]	March 6–9, 2008	31%	54%
Critical Insights^[18]	October 12–30, 2007	34%	54%
Survey USA^[19]	October 26–29, 2007	38%	55%
Research 2000/Daily Kos^[20]	October 15–17, 2007	33%	56%

Results

General election results
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

References

^ Lieberman Backs Susan Collins, Gives $5K To Her Re-election Campaign - CBS News
^ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
^ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
^ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Pan Atlantic SMS Group
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ McLaughlin & Associates/
Coalition for a Democratic Workforce
^ Critical Insights
^ Survey USA
^ Research 2000/Daily Kos

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
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

[1] Lieberman Backs Susan Collins, Gives $5K To Her Re-election Campaign - CBS News

[Cook_PR-2] "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.

[3] Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics

[Inside_Elections-4] "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.

[5] "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.

[6] Rasmussen Reports

[7] Survey USA

[8] Rasmussen Reports

[9] Survey USA

[10] Rasmussen Reports

[11] Rasmussen Reports

[12] Rasmussen Reports

[13] Pan Atlantic SMS Group

[14] Rasmussen Reports

[15] Rasmussen Reports

[16] Rasmussen Reports

[17] McLaughlin & Associates/
Coalition for a Democratic Workforce

[18] Critical Insights

[19] Survey USA

[20] Research 2000/Daily Kos

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2008 United States Senate election in Maine

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Campaign

Predictions

Polling

Results

See also

References

External links