The 2008 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Maine. Republican incumbent Susan Collins won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic congressman Tom Allen.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Susan Collins, incumbent U.S. senator (1997–present) Endorsements

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tom Allen, U.S. representative from ME-01 (1997–2009) Eliminated in primary Thomas Ledue, educator

Results

General election Campaign Allen tried to tie Collins to George W. Bush, the tactics of which failed, as Collins maintained her image as a popular, moderate, independent Republican.

When Collins was first elected in 1996, she pledged to serve only two terms (twelve years) in office, which would have ended in January 2009. She 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 Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama simultaneously won.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics October 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics November 1, 2008

Post-primary endorsements

Polling Poll source Dates administered TomAllen (D) SusanCollins (R)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports November 1, 2008 41% 57%Survey USASurvey USA October 20, 2008 43% 54%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 2, 2008 43% 53%Survey USASurvey USA September 22–23, 2008 39% 55%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 17, 2008 42% 55%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 12, 2008 40% 55%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 17, 2008 42% 49%Pan Atlantic SMS GroupPan Atlantic SMS Group June 18, 2008 31% 56%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 16, 2008 42% 49%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 14, 2008 42% 52%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports April 1, 2008 38% 54%McLaughlin & Associates/Coalition for a Democratic WorkforceMcLaughlin & Associates/Coalition for a Democratic Workforce March 6–9, 2008 31% 54%Critical InsightsCritical Insights October 12–30, 2007 34% 54%Survey USASurvey USA October 26–29, 2007 38% 55%Research 2000/Daily KosResearch 2000/Daily Kos October 15–17, 2007 33% 56%

Results

Results by county CountySusan CollinsRepublicanThomas AllenDemocraticAll othersMarginTotal votes cast#%#%#%#%Androscoggin33,71461.7%20,94138.3%30.01%12,77323.4%54,658Aroostook25,32472.0%9,81227.9%140.1%15,51244.1%35,150Cumberland88,05054.3%73,65845.5%3480.2%14,3928.8%162,056Franklin10,47161.6%6,53438.4%00.0%3,93723.2%17,005Hancock19,15260.0%12,77140.0%140.01%6,38120.0%31,937Kennebec41,79463.5%23,97736.4%220.1%17,81727.1%65,793Knox13,13957.8%9,57842.1%210.1%3,56115.7%22,738Lincoln13,69163.5%7,84736.4%270.1%5,84427.1%21,565Oxford19,62162.2%11,90337.7%110.1%7,71824.5%31,535Penobscot53,61966.9%26,54333.1%340.01%27,07633.8%80,196Piscataquis6,49469.1%2,89630.8%40.1%3,59838.3%9,394Sagadahoc13,16662.2%7,99337.7%160.1%5,17324.5%21,175Somerset16,63564.6%9,09535.3%30.1%7,54029.3%25,733Waldo13,34761.6%8,28838.3%260.1%5,05923.3%21,661Washington11,21567.0%5,50732.9%60.1%5,70834.1%16,728York64,86860.6%42,16739.4%710.01%22,70121.2%107,106Totals444,30061.3%279,51038.6%6200.1%164,79022.7%724,430

See also 2008 United States Senate elections

References

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 Official campaign websites (archived) Susan Collins (R) for Senate Tom Allen (D) for Senate