New Maine poll (SurveyUSA, A): Biden +13 (ME-2 +3), Gideon +2

[brooklynite]

On the eve of the final debate for US Senator from Maine, Democratic challenger Sara Gideon has a nominal 2-point, ever-so-slight advantage over lightning-rod incumbent Republican Susan Collins, 51% to 49%, using the state of Maine's new Ranked Choice Voting selection process to calculate voters' intentions. SurveyUSA's research was conducted exclusively for FairVote.

...snip...

Statewide, Biden defeats Trump 53% to 40% at this hour, 5 days until votes are counted. Because Biden is above 50% on 1st choice, no ranking needs to be done. Biden immediately receives 2 of the state's electoral votes.

Officials then look to see who won each of Maine's 2 US Congressional Districts, with an additional 1 electoral college vote awarded to the candidate who carries each district. Maine's 1st district (ME-01), is in the southern, densely populated part of the state, and typically is more left-leaning than Maine's 2nd district, which is much larger geographically because it is largely rural. In 2020, on 1st ballot, Biden carries ME-01, 59% to 35%. In 2016, although ME-01 voted for the Democrat Clinton, ME-02 voted for the Republican Trump. Can Trump count on an electoral vote from ME-02 in 2020?

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=b3c59e14-b400-40ad-919c-1f42ca3ae8b6

[helpisontheway]

1. Why in the world is the senate race so close?

Why in the world would they be pleased with Collins? Is Gideon a good candidate? Hope Biden has strong enough coattails to pull Gideon over the line...

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

2. Yes, she is a very good candidate

She is the ME House majority leader. I think it is difficult race because there are probably still people who think Collins isn't responsible for Trump. Dumb, but Colins has a long standing reputation as being independent and I think people that aren't paying close attention haven't noticed how she has changed. Meanwhile, Trump is all over the news all the time looking like a fool, so that explains why so many more are voting for Biden. It's the independents. They are definitely voting against Trump, but Susan Collins is very mild mannered in comparison to Trump. I think because she's not acting like a total embarassing buffoon all the time some people are still giving her the benefit of the doubt. Low information voters I think.