It’s preferable to have 50% or 75% of the enchilada than to have 0%. A Democrat Senator from Maine will have the luxury of being as far left as Kerry and Sanders.
If the GOP loses the seat in Maine, a state that turns deeper blue with each election cycle, it will be difficult to win it back the way Maine is trending.
But it’s not a sure bet that Snowe, if she survives a primary challenge, would win against a top notch Democrat candidate who will undoubtably be very well funded.
In 2012, Democrats will have a lot of seats to defend in red or swing states and their money will be spread thin. Maine is one of the few GOP seats they have a shot at flipping.
The irony is that if Snowe had been a RAT, Obamacare might not have made it out of committee. She gave them political cover.
Republicans hold the Maine state senate, house, and governorship, for the first time in memory, and the tea party movement has energized the long dormant conservative grass roots.
But it’s not a sure bet that Snowe, if she survives a primary challenge, would win against a top notch Democrat candidate who will undoubtably be very well funded.
Neither Snowe nor Collins has shown any vulnerability. Collins has crushed two first tier challengers while Snowe won her last election with 74% of the vote. Mike Michaud is probably the only one who could get within 15 points of her.