McConnell scrambling to prop up Collins, whose approval has fallen to “record low” in Maine

 

A new report details how Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s allies are “amassing a $190 million war chest” to defend the most vulnerable Republican incumbents -- including Senator Susan Collins.

 

As her support among Mainers continues to crater, Senator Collins has tried to capitalize on her most controversial votes. In the third fundraising quarter, she promoted her defense of Brett Kavanaugh and her reliable support for McConnell himself to secure contributions, a part of the $2.1 million her campaign reported for the three-month period. Senator Collins is also taking all the help she can get from corporate special interests as Maine’s U.S. Senate race continues to move in Democrats’ direction.

 

“More than a year before the 2020 election, Mitch McConnell’s allies are already conspiring to prop up Senator Collins -- proof of just how vulnerable Collins is, and the latest sign of where her loyalties lie,” said Maine Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Marra. “Collins is facing the toughest reelection of her career because she’s been more focused on currying favor with McConnell and Washington special interests than with fighting for Mainers, and voters won’t forget it any time soon.”

 

Read more about Senator Collins’ reliance on Mitch McConnell and his out-of-state allies to prop up her campaign:

 

  • Washington Examiner: “Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation have emerged as the primary source of outside air cover for Senate Republicans. The super PAC and its affiliated nonprofit are central to McConnell’s strategy to protect his three-seat majority… To compensate against further deterioration, Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation have budgeted approximately $190 million to protect McConnell’s most endangered incumbents: Sen. Susan Collins of Maine; Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado; appointed Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona; Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina — and Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and David Perdue of Georgia if they need the help.”
  • Wall Street Journal: “Mitch McConnell spares no expense to bolster the candidacy of Maine Sen. Susan Collins”
  • HuffPost: Susan Collins Is Fundraising Off Her Brett Kavanaugh Vote: ‘Far Left’ Are Coming After Me. 
  • WBUR: Controversial Votes Threaten Susan Collins' Centrist Reputation
  • HuffPost: Susan Collins Voted To Confirm Kavanaugh A Year Ago. Mainers Haven’t Forgotten.
  • Maine Beacon: Labor advocates say Collins’ vote for Scalia shows ‘which side she works for’
     
  • Bangor Daily News: Unions that have backed Susan Collins are undecided for 2020. Brett Kavanaugh is one reason.
     
  • Maine Beacon: Collins attends fundraiser at $4m mansion of nation’s top anti-choice judicial activist
     
  • Daily Kos: Collins feted in big-dollar California fundraiser as ‘hero of the Kavanaugh confirmation.’
  • Portland Press-Herald: “only about 5 percent of Collins’ recent haul comes from Maine donors and 95 percent came from out of state”
  • Bloomberg: Susan Collins Faces Re-Election as Standing Erodes in Trump Era
     
  • The Hill: Cook Political Report moves Susan Collins Senate race to 'toss up'
  • FiveThirtyEight: Mitch McConnell Is The Only Senator More Unpopular Than Susan Collins 

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