Maine Senate Race Leans Republican

PORTLAND, Maine (AllPolitics, Nov. 2) -- Faced with having to defend a large number of open Senate seats in 1996, national Democratic strategists received what they viewed as a gift: the unexpected retirement of popular three-term centrist Republican Sen. William S. Cohen.

But the party's prospects for a Senate takeaway in the northeastern-most state were not as bright as it had once hoped as the campaign entered the home stretch.

The Democratic primary winner, Joseph E. Brennan, is a former governor (1979-87) and House member (1987-91) who is struggling to end a political losing streak.

The Republican nominee, former Cohen Senate aide Susan Collins, is running neck-and-neck with Brennan in polls and leads in campaign funding. A supporter of abortion rights and opponent of the death penalty, Collins has a moderate profile similar to that of Cohen and other Republicans who have been successful statewide.

Brennan is trying to bounce back from losses for governor in 1990 and 1994. "Brennan still rings a lot of bells with hard- core Democrats," said University of Southern Maine political scientist Bill Coogan. But he added, "I think the issue is that he's a loser and he's seen as the fellow who deprived the Democrats of an opportunity to win the seat." Coogan and other observers believe a Democrat with less baggage would have had a better shot.

Criticism of Brennan has even been heard in partisan Democratic circles. Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), knocked Brennan in September for the lackluster quality of his campaign, Brennan's 14th in the last 32 years.

Kerrey said Brennan has not presented his differences with Collins clearly enough. "In Maine, we're down," Kerrey said.

Brennan may yet benefit from a Democratic tide in the state if President Bill Clinton maintains his big lead in state polls. And Collins still must prove herself as a general election candidate. As the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 1994, Collins finished third behind Brennan, both losing to independent Angus King.

But Collins has improved her campaign style since then and has stressed the small business concerns that have been her forte throughout her career in government.

Related Links:

• Maine State Profile