The Maine Senate race is shaping up to be a close contest. While majorities have concerns about both major party candidates, the worries about Democratic candidate Graham Platner are more intense. That’s according to a Fox News statewide poll that also suggests voter motivation is helping keep the race competitive. The new poll finds Republican incumbent Sen.Susan Collins has a small three percentage-point advantage, receiving 50% to Platner’s 47% among Maine registered voters. But among the two-thirds of voters who say they are extremely motivated to vote, Platner leads by 9 points, 53-44%. FOX NEWS POLL: LOOKING AHEAD TO AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARYThat’s driven by a 15-point enthusiasm gap, as more Democrats (76%) than Republicans (61%) describe themselves as highly motivated to cast a ballot this year.FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS EMBRACE HEALTH AGENDA WHILE RATING RFK JR NEGATIVELYMaine voters express concern about both Senate candidates. More than half say Platner lacks the judgment to serve as a U.S.
senator, while a similar share believes Collins has been in office too long. Yet concerns about Platner run a bit deeper. Nearly 4 in 10 are extremely worried about his judgment compared with 3 in 10 who say the same about Collins' lengthy tenure.Roughly one-third of independents are extremely concerned about both Platner’s judgment (33%) and Collins’ tenure (30%). Only 10% of Democrats express concern about Platner, and only 10% of Republicans about Collins.About 1 in 10 of those concerned about Platner’s judgment still support him, while 2 in 10 of those worried Collins has served too long continue to favor her. In 2024, Harris beat Donald Trump statewide by nearly 7 points. "Along with North Carolina, Maine is the Democrats’ most obvious Senate target — a blue state with a restless electorate and a 30-year establishment Republican incumbent," says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson."...