If you want to know how, in God's name, someone of the ilk of Susan Collins keeps getting elected in Maine, despite it being ostensibly a Blue State, it's because she pulls in far more Democratic support than she should. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the misguided notion is that she brings home a lot of money in infrastructure projects and the like, which makes her valuable. That is false, but it's a common belief in Maine. Forget the fact that represents the party of Trump that cost American households upwards of $5400 per year in higher housing, food, and energy prices. That doesn't seem to register with some Maine Democrats. Not all, but some. Trump's idiotic trade war with Canada in a state that relies on 62% of its trade is especially stupid as well.
All of which is a little puzzling in the case of Margaret Daigle. She had been the Town and City Manager in 9 different communities during her career. Someone like that ought to know how government works at the local level.
Source: Portland Press Herald
Interviews with respondents show that some Democrats are struggling with their decision in Maine’s race, despite clearly wanting their party to come out on top this fall.
Margaret “Peggy” Daigle, a 73-year-old Democrat from East Millinocket, said she wants her party to control the Senate to push back against the Trump administration.
But Daigle said she’s not sold on Jackson. Instead, she said she’s leaning toward Collins because she thinks the incumbent is better positioned to work across the aisle.
“This administration is going to leave us with a lot of problems that we have to fix,” Daigle said. “There has to be a thoughtful strategy in trying to right the ship and correct the errors that have been made.”
That was on September 24. With the ProPublica story on Collins' overt corruption in the pay-to-play scandal, Peggy might be having a change of heart. Press Herald, Sept 28:
But Margaret Daigle, an East Millinocket Democrat, is rethinking her support of Collins. She said the ProPublica article reminded her of the last-minute attacks against Hillary Clinton over her handling of classified emails during the 2016 presidential race.
Daigle, 73, said “it’s annoying” that these allegations have come out so late in the cycle. She said she may not know who she’s voting for until she steps into the booth and closes the curtain.
“I’m still undecided — this is crazy,” Daigle said. “It’s gonna come right down to the wire.”
You can understand her dilemma. That article made a routine decision difficult, "annoying," as she put it. Ignore the overt corruption of Collins and dismiss it as political dirty tricks, or face unpleasant facts. Such a difficult decision: Vote with the woman who backs the Trump agenda by voting with him 95% of the time, and also has the ugly rumors hanging over her (with receipts, all sourced and itemized) of securing political donations from convicted felons. Or use common sense and vote for her party's nominee.
Decisions, decisions...
Update: Margaret Daigle, the East Millinocket Democrat who told the NY Times pollster she backed Collins, is now rethinking her support.
"I'm still undecided — this is crazy," Daigle said. "It's gonna come right down to the wire." #mepolitics https://t.co/aPp052O1e7— Andy O'Brien (@aobrien2010) September 28, 2026
