In Maine, Senate race tightens even more. Collins drops under 50%.

John posted updates on a number of Senate races below, but we're giving the Maine race its own post. Tom Allen is closing the gap against Susan Collins. In fact, for the first time, Collins has dropped under 50%. That's a danger zone for incumbents.

We've been watching this one for awhile. Susan Collins is especially despicable. She purports to be a moderate in Maine while doing the dirty work for George Bush in the Senate. Back her 2002 Senate race, Susan couldn't attach herself any closer to George Bush. She can't run from him this time. Collins is getting caught up in the anti-GOP wave. Here's an analysis I wrote about this race in March of 2007:

Maine is a blue state. Tom has represented the first Congressional District, which includes Greater Portland, since 1996. Approximately 72% of the media market in Maine comes out of the Portland-Auburn stations, which comprise the southern part of the state. A good chunk of voters in the Second District, including the very blue city of Waterville (hometown of the venerated George J. Mitchell) was in Tom's District until the last re-districting (in 2002). In the 2006 election, Tom got 60% of the vote without running one t.v. ad – meanwhile, the Democratic Governor was re-elected with only 38% of the vote in a four-way race. Collins best election was in 2002 -- the best GOP year ever, and she got just 58%. A lot has changed since 2002, but not Susan's loyalty to Bush and the GOP. She voted for the war and she can't escape that.

I just got off the phone with Tom Allen. He's feeling very upbeat especially about the very sophisticated field operation underway in Maine -- probably the best the state has ever seen. And, keep in mind, this gap has closed without Tom running any t.v. ads. Tom also wanted me to thank everyone for the support he's received from so many of AMERICAblog's readers. Our ActBlue page has already exceeded $10,000. This is real money for a campaign in Maine. Every dollar really helps. So give -- or give again. And, don't forget, McCain's biggest cheerleader, Joe Lieberman, is supporting Collins. It was just a year ago, June 20, 2007, when Lieberman hosted a fundraiser for her.

And, finally, here are those latest poll numbers that show Collins is in trouble:

Senator Susan Collins’ lead in her bid for reelection in Maine continues to fade, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.

Two months ago Collins led her Democratic challenger Tom Allen by 16 percentage points, but that spread fell to 10 points in May. Now her lead is down to seven points, 49% to 42%, dropping her below 50% for the first time and putting her among the Republican senators at risk this November. Incumbents who poll less than 50% are generally viewed as potentially vulnerable.

Collins’ favorability rating has fallen as well for the third month in a row, but she is still is viewed favorably by a substantial majority of Maine voters (65%), down from 70% last month. By a nearly identical number, the incumbent’s unfavorables have risen from 29% in May to 33% now.

By contrast, Allen, who has served in the House since 1997, is viewed favorably by 56% of voters and unfavorably by 37%, virtually identical to his ratings in May.

The trend is looking very good for Tom Allen. He is going to win this race. Help make that happen.