In Maine, Lessons From Rhode Island

2007-07-27

Source: Roll Call (Subscription Required

If Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) really wants to raise Sen. Susan Collins' (R-Maine) hackles, he should compare her to former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.). Collins' campaign team reflexively bristles at the suggestion that her re-election race will go anything like Chafee's did last year, but there are undeniable parallels. Both are moderate Republicans in liberal New England. Chafee was forced to run as much against President Bush as the man who defeated him, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D). Allen already is working overtime to link Collins to Bush. And voters generally like both Chafee and Collins. Chafee's approval rating was more than 60 percent on Election Day. Collins was at 73 percent in a survey in November. "From Susan Collins' perspective, I think there are a lot similarities," said Ian Lang, who was Chafee's campaign manager. "You have a moderate Republican, very popular in her state, well-liked and well-respected, facing a determined opposition candidate who is going to run an election not having anything to do with Susan Collins. It's going to be about Bush and the Republicans."

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