Allen makes Senate campaign official

Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) confirmed months of speculation yesterday, officially throwing his hat into the ring against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Allen’s taped Internet announcement made clear the congressman plans on running a campaign against Collins based on public discontent with national issues like the Iraq war and tax cuts for the wealthy.

{mosads} “From the beginning, when President Bush rushed to invade Iraq, Susan Collins has supported his misguided policy,” Allen said.

Allen campaign manager Valerie Martin acknowledged the race would have a national flavor but added that “ultimately, this is about Maine and Maine voters.”

“Those are the issues we will be talking about, and I assume you’ll be hearing about them nationally as well,” Martin said.

Although Collins is considered to be one of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s (DSCC) top targets in 2008, a poll released by an independent firm yesterday shows the challenges Allen might face.

A poll conducted April 20-27 by Critical Insights of Maine shows Collins with a commanding lead, beating Allen by 25 percent.

The poll of 600 likely voters — 38 percent Democrats, 27 percent Republicans and 26 percent independents — shows Allen with 54 percent of Democratic support. Collins has the support of 85 percent of Republicans and 65 percent of independents.

Perhaps most surprisingly, only one in 10 voters responded that they are undecided at this point.

Those numbers suggest “this is going to be a very intense battle,” according to Critical Insights President MaryEllen FitzGerald.

Rich Powell, a political science professor at the University of Maine, said Collins is a “popular incumbent,” while Allen, who represents the 1st district, is still relatively unknown in the state’s 2nd district.

“By that measure, it’s an uphill climb,” Powell said.

The Critical Insights poll shows Allen doing only slightly better in the 1st district, with 33 percent support, than in the 2nd district, where he has 28 percent.

But Powell added that the national environment, particularly when it comes to the Iraq war, does give Republicans cause for concern, much like it did last year.

“What that dynamic will look like in November of 2008 is anybody’s guess,” he said.

Matthew Miller, spokes­man for the DSCC, said what the poll doesn’t show is that Maine has been trending Democratic in presidential elections. He thinks Collins will face one of the “toughest races of her life.”

“I don’t believe that [poll] changes anything about the fundamental dynamics of that state,” Miller said.

So far this year, Collins has raised more than $836,000 and has about $1.2 million cash on hand.

Allen’s House reelection war chest, which he can transfer to his Senate camp, raised about $393,000 in the first quarter and has about $812,000 cash on hand.

Collins’s office said the senator feels confident that voters will remember why they have supported the senator in the past, and that voters will continue to see Collins as an independent lawmaker.

“Mainers will quickly draw the distinction between Senator Collins and Congressman Allen in everything ranging from their accomplishments to their small-business records,” a Collins spokeswoman said. “Senator Collins has demonstrated her effectiveness by working across party lines for the benefit of Maine and the nation.”