Maine Senate: Collins targets 'outright lies' in final days
The senator accused Democratic leadership of using a national strategy to distract from local issues in a race currently tied at 49 percent.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
Susan Collins attacked Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party on Sunday for airing what she called a series of deceptive attack ads. She made the comments in a Fox News interview held two days before the November 3 election in Maine. The race pits the incumbent Republican against Troy Jackson, a Democrat, in a contest that polls show is extremely close.
Collins stated that she has never encountered a campaign with so many outright lies. She specifically cited a false advertisement regarding Jeffrey Epstein. She noted that two other Republican colleagues in tight races received nearly identical ads. Collins described this tactic as part of Schumer’s playbook to coordinate messaging across multiple districts.
The senator argued that Democrats are attempting to nationalize the election to shift attention away from local concerns. She claimed her opponent and his allies are focusing on divisive national political battles rather than state-level issues. This strategy, according to Collins, obscures the specific policy differences between the two candidates in Maine.
Context from a recent Fox News poll indicates the candidates are currently tied at 49 percent. Collins positioned herself as a centrist figure willing to work across party lines. She said she is running again because many moderate lawmakers have retired or declined to seek reelection. She argued that the Senate requires more legislators who prioritize bipartisan cooperation over strict party loyalty.
Collins also challenged claims about her voting record relative to the White House. She stated that a popular narrative suggesting she voted with President Donald Trump 95 percent of the time is based on a small sample of only 30 percent of votes. When analyzing a broader 90 percent sample, that figure drops to approximately 72 percent. She added that she voted against the president’s policies 138 times.
Jackson told Fox News previously that he believes he has a good shot at winning. Collins countered that she is feeling very optimistic about her chances. She attributed her confidence to the positive response she receives while visiting communities across the state. The interview took place on Sunday, with Election Day approaching on Tuesday.
