Susan Collins attack ads were the focus Sunday as the Maine Republican senator criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats for what she called a wave of false messaging targeting her and other GOP candidates in the final stretch before Election Day.
Collins, who faces Democrat Troy Jackson in a closely watched contest, said in a Fox News interview that she has never seen a campaign with “so many outright lies.” A recent poll cited in the interview showed the race tied at 49 percent.
Susan Collins attack ads and Schumer’s “playbook”
Collins accused Democrats of following what she described as Schumer’s playbook, pointing to ads she said were nearly identical to those used against other Republican senators. She cited an ad linking her to Jeffrey Epstein as “outrageous” and “completely false,” adding that colleagues in competitive races reported seeing similar spots.
She argued Democrats are seeking to nationalize the contest, shifting attention away from local concerns. “It’s certainly an attempt by my opponent and Chuck Schumer and their allies to nationalize this race,” she said.
Collins emphasizes bipartisanship
Turning to her own message, Collins framed herself as a centrist willing to work across party lines, saying the Senate needs more moderates as many have retired or opted against running again. “We need more people who are willing to work across party lines. That is really important,” she said.
Collins also defended her independence from former President Donald Trump, disputing a widely circulated figure about her voting record. She said the claim that she voted with Trump 95 percent of the time reflects only about 30 percent of votes, and that a broader look of roughly 90 percent of votes places her alignment closer to 72 percent. She added that she voted against Trump’s policies 138 times.
Neck-and-neck race with Troy Jackson
Jackson has said he believes he has a good chance of defeating Collins. The longtime senator countered that she is seeing strong enthusiasm on the trail and said she feels more optimistic than ever about her reelection prospects. “I’m feeling very optimistic based on the great response I get in visiting communities all over the state,” she said.
Collins made the comments during a Fox News interview and focused much of her criticism on Senate Democrats and their campaign tactics.
