Control of US Senate a focus of Maine race

The Boston Globe ^ | 6/3/2002 | Susan Milligan

[xsysmgr]

PORTLAND, Maine - Bringing down a well-funded incumbent like Susan Collins, whose soft-spoken demeanor and tenacious constituent work have brought her high approval ratings in this gentle-mannered state, is a tough fight for even the strongest challenger. So Democrat Chellie Pingree is running against a force far more objectionable among moderate Mainers: the threat of a renewed Republican majority in the US Senate.

[xsysmgr]

Pingree is seeking to portray Collins as a closet conservative

Fat chance. Collins is the second or third biggest RINO in the Senate.

[widowithfoursons]

Personally, I don't want to see Trent Lott as Majority Leader again either. SURELY, we can come up with someone less vapid than he.

[nralife]

''I don't know about the rest of you, but I never want to see `Trent Lott, majority leader' again,'' Pingree told a group of supporters at a recent fund-raiser,

Don't worry, Mr Pingree. WE don't want Trent Lott back in power either. I will not donate one nickel to the RNC until I can be assured that Trent vacant-Lott will step aside for someone else to run the show. Send all your RNC contribution requests back stating that until Lott is gone that they will receive NO money! :)

[bloggerjohn]

Heard as I passed by the Democrat General Store, on the corner of Poverty and Blayme:

"Election time comin' up folks, get yer Trent Lott Scarecrows right now. And we have some fine Trent Lott Boogeyman Masks to frighten the kiddies on Halloween." ;')

[KC_Conspirator]

''You don't get to call yourself a moderate when you vote six times against raising the minimum wage ... when you voted for one of the biggest tax cuts in history,'' Pingree said in an interview. Collins, Pingree is fond of saying, has voted ''with Trent Lott 80 percent of the time.''

Collins' ACU rating is pretty low, although it was not even close to the likes of Jeffords. Pingree (and the Boston Globe) will never be able to paint Collins as a Jesse Helms type becauses she is a total RINO.

BTW - Who are are the other two RINO's in the Senate that outrank Collins? Olympia Snowe? Arlen Sphincter?

[Dog Gone]

Pingree likes to remind Maine voters that there is only one vote that really counts: the one senators cast for majority leader.

That's a true statement, and it's why we have to hold our noses and support RINOs when necessary.

[xsysmgr]

Who are are the other two RINO's in the Senate that outrank Collins? Olympia Snowe? Arlen Sphincter?

My personal, totally unscientific, rating is Chafee (RI) as biggest RINO, then Collins and the PA Scotsman in a virtual tie, then Snowe.

[Coop]

Also, while Pingree has raised a great deal of money for a Maine contender, especially for a challenger, she has only about $350,000 left from nearly $2 million.

This is a HUGE hurdle to overcome, in my opinion. She's spent a ton of dough, and in three polls I've yet to see her closer than 39 points to Collins. The incumbent's 53% provides a ray of hope (in the other two polls Collins was at 55% and 63%), but only if Pingree takes all the undecided vote.

[LarryM]

This piece is just Boston Globe leftists engaging in their favorite fantasies--imagining that the entire world is going commie.

[lasereye]

Don't forget McCain. I think if the Senate is once again tied after November Chafee will then jump to the Democrats or threaten to as a way of paralyzing Bush. I think the GOP needs at least 54 seats to be able to push Bush's agenda if you assume the five RINO's are totally unreliable, while Miller is the lone Democrat who will cross over and vote with Bush.

[Coop]

I think if the Senate is once again tied after November Chafee will then jump to the Democrats or threaten to as a way of paralyzing Bush.

Chaffee was threatening as much last year, but I saw an article last week where he seemed to be very disillusioned with what the Dems have done to the judicial nominees. Maybe he's had a dose of reality. Who knows?