There are two elements of the Senate race in Maine that truly stand out on the ground.One is that this is a small state, at least in terms of population.
The other is that Susan Collins has been a senator here for three decades.The upshot is that almost everyone I've met here has met her.Philip, a lifelong Mainer in his 70s from Bangor, told me in an accent straight out of "Murder, She Wrote": "It would be stupid, in my opinion, not to vote for Susan, she's chairman of the appropriations committee, and she's brought a lot of money to the state," adding, "we've got new fire stations in every little town you can think of."The appreciation for Collins among ordinary Mainers represents the daunting uphill battle Democrat Troy Jackson faces in a race where polls give him a slight lead, but the word on the street has him dead in the water.Sen.
Susan Collins, R-Maine, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, on July 24, 2025.Collins has been a senator for three decades.
(J.Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)COLLINS INSISTS SOCIALIST RIVAL WON'T BEAT HER AS MAINE'S MONEY MACHINE: 'YOU'LL LOSE BIG TIME'Speaking of fire stations, I met Andy and Hank, both firefighters, at Seasons restaurant in Bangor.
And just like Philip, they can't really see Collins going down."We've all met her," Andy said of "Susan," not "Collins," adding, "She's an institution in Maine, I can't believe that Jackson can beat her."Hank was hardly alone.Everyone I spoke to at Seasons seemed to agree, even the Democrats, who have a unique affection for Collins.
As the burly Hank put it, "I'll believe she loses when I see it."SUSAN COLLINS DEFIES BLUE-STATE HEADWINDS IN CRUCIAL SENATE BATTLE AS NEW POLL REVEALS STRIKING SPLITIn fairness, while Collins may be the Tom Brady of New England politics, even he lost twice to Eli Manning in the Super Bowl.So Jackson does have a chance to unseat the 73-year-old stalwart of the Senate.John and Jeff, two voters I spoke with, are hoping and voting for just that.
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