From The Hotline Latest Edition for Tuesday, May 6,2008

MAINE

Who Knew She Could Be So Feisty?

Tue. May 6, 2008


Sen. Susan Collins (R) "took a few pokes" at Rep. Tom Allen (D-01) "and mocked" Barack Obama's troubles "as she turned up the volume of rhetoric" 5/3 from the ME GOP Convo podium.

Collins addressed the convo following a video intro featuring ex-Pres. Bush, John McCain, ex-Sen./ex-Sec/State William Cohen and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT). Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) also offered a strong endorsement: "Certainly the quality of her service has not gone unnoticed ... We need Susan. But most importantly, Maine and the nation need Susan Collins for the next six years."

While allowing that she and Allen both care deeply about ME, Collins said "the similarities pretty much end there" and ticked off a list of areas in which she and Allen differ. Collins said she supported GOP tax relief efforts, which Allen opposed. Collins said she voted for Medicare Part D drug coverage while Allen opposed it, and that she supported allowing the gov't to intercept overseas phone calls "of terrorists plotting to kill Americans" while Allen did not.

Allen spokesperson Carol Andrews "acknowledged Allen's opposition to President Bush's tax cuts, saying they favored upper-income earners while Allen supports tax cuts that benefit the middle class. Andrews said Allen opposed the Medicare drug bill, which she said was written by the pharmaceutical industry. She said Allen believes better alternatives can be achieved. And Allen opposed the law to allow government monitoring of phone calls because they violate privacy rights, said Andrews" (Adams, AP, 5/4).

Collins: "John McCain is an authentic hero. He does not need to embellish his record with tales of being under fire. He has been under fire. When people exercise their right to go to church, he does not see bitterness, he sees Americans proud and free" (Griffin, Bangor Daily News, 5/5). More: "When Republicans distance themselves from their pastor, they do it by sitting in the back of the church" (AP, 5/4).