ME-SEN: Tom Allen To Run?

You know, the speculation never ends. The moment one election cycle concludes, another begins.

The Republicans in the Senate actually had their easiest series of holds in 2006, believe it or not. 40 of their 49 current seats will be up in 2008 and 2010. That's a lot of incumbents that they need to hold. One of the more vulnerable, especially given how we saw New England swing this year, is Susan Collins of Maine. Collins is well-liked, but hides behind a "moderate" veneer when actually she's a pretty reliable vote for the Republican agenda. Most importantly, she'll probably have a worthy opponent.

With Senate Democrats looking to consolidate their midterm gains in 2008, the latest Senate seat being eyed for a possible Dem pick-up is in blue territory currently held by a Republican. Roll Call reports (paid subscription) that Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, has said he is "seriously considering" a run for U.S. Senate against moderate GOPer Susan Collins. Allen, who voted against the war in 2002, has spent only half of the more than $930,000 he raised in the last cycle — leaving him with a warchest for a statewide run that rivals the cash on hand held by Collins.

Should Allen run, and Collins seek re-election, he will reportedly base his campaign around two central issues. First, he will take Collins to task for breaking the pledge she made in 1996 to only serve two terms. And he will argue that the liberal-leaning voters of his New England state should not be sending a Senator to Washington who would empower the Republican leadership there. It worked for Rhode Island Senator-Elect Sheldon Whitehouse.

Speaking of empowering the Republican leadership, it looks like Collins was essential in bringing back Trent Lott to a leadership position.

Sen. Trent Lott’s (R-Miss.) stunning return to the Senate leadership was made possible by the last-minute defections of Sens. John Warner (R-Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) from Sen. Lamar Alexander’s (R-Tenn.) rival campaign for Republican whip.

Ironically, four years earlier, Warner and Collins helped drive Lott from leadership by giving his rivals support at crucial moments during the controversy over his comments at the 100th birthday party of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) [...]

Lott’s allies pursued Collins vigorously right up until the day she was to cast her ballot.

Thune was seen having dinner with Collins and several other people the night before the vote, according to a witness. Thune’s office declined to comment.

Another source said Gregg worked on Collins as well. A third said McCain lobbied Collins, with whom he is close and regularly meets over lunch.

During the secret vote, Collins’s nervous body language led Alexander’s allies to suspect that she had switched at the final moment.

But Collins declined in an interview yesterday to reveal how she voted.

“I’m not going to discuss my votes in the whip race,” she said.

Oh, I think she'll have to discuss that vote. And how does she explain the appeal of Council of Conservative Citizens-lover Lott to her northeastern constituency?

If you thought 2006 was fun, just wait until 2008.