2008 United States Senate election in Maine

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.

2008 United States Senate election in Maine

← 2002 November 4, 2008 2014 →

Nominee Susan Collins Tom Allen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 444,300 279,510 Percentage 61.33% 38.58%

County results Municipality results 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

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 ended 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

See also

• 2008 United States Senate elections