PORTLAND, Maine — Independent Angus King leads the race to fill U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s soon-to-be-empty seat with nearly double the support of his closest competitor and four months of campaigning to go before the November vote, according to a poll by Portland-based Critical Insights.
King, a former two-term governor, was favored by 55 percent of surveyed voters, compared with 27 percent support for Snowe’s fellow Republican, Charlie Summers, and 7 percent for Democrat Cynthia Dill, according to the poll. Nine percent were undecided. The poll reflects earlier polls that reported similar results.
Snowe took the political establishment by surprise when she announced Feb. 28 that she wouldn’t seek a fourth term, citing partisan polarization and political gridlock. Summers and Dill emerged as victors in their respective primaries which together drew 10 Republicans and Democrats.
The survey, commissioned by The Portland Press Herald, indicated King was drawing support from both parties, especially Democrats. Sixty-seven percent of Democrats said they support King. Dill, a state senator from Cape Elizabeth, drew support from only 17 percent of Democrats surveyed in the poll.
Critical Insights surveyed 615 Maine voters from June 20 to 25, after Summers’ and Dill’s primary victories. The margin of error was 4 percentage points on statewide polling. The margin of error was 5.75 in the 1st Congressional District and 5.4 percentage points in the 2nd District.
The poll had Democratic U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Michael Michaud leading Republican challengers Jon Courtney and Kevin Raye in the congressional races.
In the 1st District, Pingree led Courtney 57 percent to 31 percent among those polled. Michaud led Raye 47 percent to 35 percent in the 2nd District, where a large number of respondents were still undecided, the survey said.
In the presidential race, the poll showed Mainers favoring President Barack Obama over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, 49 percent to 35 percent, while 13 percent were undecided.
Obama had strong support from Maine women, and voters younger than 35 and older than 55. Romney’s support was strongest among middle-age voters and men, according to the poll.
No surprises here.
If this can be believed (and I have my doubts) and King gets in, it will be disastrous for Maine! At least Snowe knew when it was time to leave. We will never get rid of King!
The majority of the state seems to disagree with you and thank God for that!
Eh, a big money shill that’s made the majority of his $$ off ratepayers and taxpayers. Once again, nobody to vote for. Tell me what he did useful as Governor. About as much as Jock? He’s just dreaming that he is on par with previous Senators from Maine. And he’s padding his retirement and lust for power.
Is that really what you want, another rich white guy in Washington who thinks he’s entitled to the job? Isn’t that what you have been railing against? Or because King’s a Democrat, then it’s okay!
Yes yes, I know he calls himself an Independent, but we all know the truth! Even you do!
No, I haven’t been “railing against” that. Thank you for trying to put words in my mouth though, but I’m all set.
God help Maine, God help the USA .
Just remember this …
President Obama = IN-SOURCING
Romney = “OUT” Sourcing
Summers, a long time political backbench-ing sycophant with no accomplishments other then having working the system for the better part of the last twenty-five years;
Dill, an unproven over-leaning lefty neophyte who had pre-ordained to the northern region of the State she knew better than those who lived and worked in that region as to what’s best for them;
King, a former Democratic Staffer to Maine’s U.S. Senator Bill Hathaway who left the political system for a couple of decades, went into the private sector, dabbled in public policy discussion (Maine Watch- MPBN) and re-entered the political realm as a twice elected Governor – yes, sometimes too intelligentsia for some, a little too decorous, and yes, not correct on every issue, but leagues above his rivals to represent Maine and maybe, as neither of the other two would-could-or-should-do, send a message to those in “our” national capitol – – Start Thinking About The Country. Go Angus.
Yea, and keep going!
Party line much , Charlie ?
Mostly yes – But, if so would I not be promoting Dill?
I think Mushmouth Mitch McConnell ain’t gonna enjoy Nov..
Wahoo! I love being blue :)
You also love paying taxes, loosing freedom, and sitting home playing with your computer all day!
So what?
I love my country and I love that everyone has equal freedoms. I vote blue because I think it’s the best way to ensure that we’re all free and without some being “more free” than others.
King is a major reason this states economy is crap.
Race over!
Or not…a long time until November 6th, much can happen.
Do not mail in your “absentee” ballots just yet.
Did you hear what Angus “…said, did, believes, didn’t do…etc.”?
Nothing against King, just know fully who you are voting for.
It ain’t over til it’s over.
Michaud can’t even get over 50%, and his numbers keep falling. It just shows what can happen when you prove to be an obsolete member of Congress.
The only poll I’ll believe is the one taken in November at voting booths.
Glad to see that Kevin Raye is not far behind Michaud. Michaud is a good man, however he is not able to represent Maine in the way which Raye is. During his time in the Maine senate, Raye proved that not only is he kind, good-hearted, and down to earth; but also that he has the strength, resolve, and intelligence to represent us. Michaud will continue his party-line record, while Raye has shown a propensity to examine each issue and vote for our interests and not for his political career. We need more Kevin Raye’s in Washington and Augusta.
Veterans love Mike Michaud.
Raye’s a hack like Summers.
Like Mike Michaud, Kevin’s a good man but unlike Mike, Kevins never had a real job, never done any real work. Send him to Washington to protect the interests of those who summer in
Seal Harbor, MDI but know that he’s woefully ill equipped to do anything positive for the working class people of Maine.
Angus King increased the state budget by nearly 90% in eight years. Do we really need another politician in DC whose greatest wish is to spend as much of your money as possible?
Angus King made millions in the wind power industry thanks to taxpayer-backed loans. Do we really need another crony capitalist representing Maine in DC?
At this important time in this nation’s history, Charlie Summers is the only sensible choice to serve Maine as U. S. Senator.
I would rather have King the Crony Capitalist representing “US” than Summers in there Representing Crony Capitalism!
Summers a “sensible choice”? There’s an oxymoron.