A recent poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire indicates that Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner holds a 9-point lead over incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. The poll, conducted from May 21-25, shows Platner with 51% support among likely voters, while Collins has 42%. Six percent of respondents remain undecided, and 2% support other candidates.
Platner, who is backed by Senator Bernie Sanders, is considered the presumptive Democratic nominee following the suspension of former Governor Janet Mills' campaign. The poll indicates that 91% of Democrats support Platner, while 87% of Republicans back Collins. Collins has a slight edge among independents, leading Platner 47% to 44%.
The survey comes as Platner faces scrutiny over past controversial comments and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, which he has since covered. Despite this, he continues to advocate for an economically populist agenda. Collins has criticized Platner as being too extreme for Maine, while Platner has countered that Collins has supported policies favoring corporations over working-class individuals.
The Pine Tree Poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.