A new survey of Maine voters finds that Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces an uphill climb to winning reelection in November.
The poll, conducted by Citizen Data, shows Collins earning 40.82% support from voters in the state versus 48.95% support for her Democratic challenger, Sara Gideon. Another 6.67% of voters remain unsure of who they will support.
Citizen Data interviewed 600 likely voters between Friday and Monday. The survey carries a 4-point margin of error.
A RealClearPolitics average of recent polls, which does not include the latest from Citizen Data, has Gideon, the current speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, leading by 4.5 points.
Collins first entered the Senate in 1997. Long known as a centrist, Collins has taken heat during President Trump’s administration for towing the GOP party line, including backing the fall 2018 nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The Maine race is among five top-tier Senate contests that Democrats are targeting in their bid to win a majority in the chamber. Republicans currently have a 53-47 edge.
On Wednesday, former Democratic nominee for vice president and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman announced his endorsement for Collins.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I put my country first, always. That’s why I’m supporting Susan Collins for Senate,” Lieberman said in a new campaign ad. “She’s independent, thoughtful, and a fighter for women’s issues.”
