2008 United States Senate election in Maine

2008 United States Senate election in Maine
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Susan Collins Tom Allen
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 444,300 279,510
Percentage 61.33% 38.58%
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

The 2008 United States Senate election in Maine took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins easily won re-election to a third term against Democrat Tom Allen, the U.S. Congressman from the 1st district.

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

Results by county

County Susan Collins
Republican 		Thomas Allen
Democratic 		Various candidates
Other parties 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Androscoggin 33,714 61.7% 20,941 38.3% 3 0.01% 12,773 23.4% 54,658
Aroostook 25,324 72.0% 9,812 27.9% 14 0.1% 15,512 44.1% 35,150
Cumberland 88,050 54.3% 73,658 45.5% 348 0.2% 14,392 8.8% 162,056
Franklin 10,471 61.6% 6,534 38.4% 0 0.0% 3,937 23.2% 17,005
Hancock 19,152 60.0% 12,771 40.0% 14 0.01% 6,381 20.0% 31,937
Kennebec 41,794 63.5% 23,977 36.4% 22 0.1% 17,817 27.1% 65,793
Knox 13,139 57.8% 9,578 42.1% 21 0.1% 3,561 15.7% 22,738
Lincoln 13,691 63.5% 7,847 36.4% 27 0.1% 5,844 27.1% 21,565
Oxford 19,621 62.2% 11,903 37.7% 11 0.1% 7,718 24.5% 31,535
Penobscot 53,619 66.9% 26,543 33.1% 34 0.01% 27,076 33.8% 80,196
Piscataquis 6,494 69.1% 2,896 30.8% 4 0.1% 3,598 38.3% 9,394
Sagadahoc 13,166 62.2% 7,993 37.7% 16 0.1% 5,173 24.5% 21,175
Somerset 16,635 64.6% 9,095 35.3% 3 0.1% 7,540 29.3% 25,733
Waldo 13,347 61.6% 8,288 38.3% 26 0.1% 5,059 23.3% 21,661
Washington 11,215 67.0% 5,507 32.9% 6 0.1% 5,708 24.1% 16,728
York 64,868 60.6% 42,167 39.4% 71 0.01% 22,701 21.2% 107,106
Totals 444,300 61.3% 279,510 38.6% 620 0.1% 164,790 22.7% 724,430

See also

References

  1. ^ Lieberman Backs Susan Collins, Gives $5K To Her Re-election Campaign - CBS News
  2. ^ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  4. ^ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  7. ^ Survey USA
  8. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  9. ^ Survey USA
  10. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  11. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  12. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  13. ^ Pan Atlantic SMS Group
  14. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  15. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  16. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  17. ^ McLaughlin & Associates/
    Coalition for a Democratic Workforce
  18. ^ Critical Insights
  19. ^ Survey USA
  20. ^ Research 2000/Daily Kos

Official campaign websites (archived)

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