Poll Shows Troy Jackson Narrowly Ahead of Susan Collins Ahead of Final Maine Debate

Suffolk University’s latest poll of 500 likely voters, run from Oct. 8 to Oct. 11, shows former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson ahead of incumbent Susan Collins by 2 points, 49% to 47%, with a margin of error of ±4.4 points. While Jackson commands overwhelming support among Democrats, Collins holds a modest 3-point lead with independent voters. The contest is considered one of the few swing seats that could determine whether Democrats can flip the Senate, currently held by Republicans 53-47.

The final debate, scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight and hosted by one outlet and NEWS CENTER Maine, will focus on data-center regulation and the ongoing Iran war. High-profile endorsements have poured in, including former President Barack Obama for Jackson and a visit from Senator Bernie Sanders, while Donald Trump has hinted at a possible appearance. Campaigns are also racing to file third-quarter federal spending reports, and a pro-Collins PAC mistakenly ran ads in Portland, Oregon instead of Portland, Maine.