Will the GOP elect their next Maine senator?

[RogueBeaver]

Collins doesn't strike me as a lifer, so when she retires the Dems will probably pick up the seat. Is it conceivable that the Maine GOP finds another politically adept moderate with enough crossover appeal to win a Senate seat? Sort of like how Collins won in the first place. Or is Collins a unique product of her time and the time when Maine would give a non-incumbent Pub a Senate shot has passed?

[free my dawg]

Kevin Raye has a decent chance at it if he wins the race in ME-2. He's probably their best chance if he doesn't turn into another Charlie Summers.

[ElectionsGuy]

I think, just like the blue dogs are dying, so are the Yankee republicans. Maine does have a long tradition of always electing republicans, and it keep it going just like Kentucky and West Virginia still elect their democrats. But ultimately, I think Maine will finally end up in the hands of the democrats at the state level, not just the federal level. I don't know though, we'll see.

[Miles]

Kevin Raye has a decent chance at it if he wins the race in ME-2. He's probably their best chance if he doesn't turn into another Charlie Summers.

This. When I was reading the OP, I thought of Raye.

[windjammer]

Collins doesn't strike me as a lifer, so when she retires the Dems will probably pick up the seat. Is it conceivable that the Maine GOP finds another politically adept moderate with enough crossover appeal to win a Senate seat? Sort of like how Collins won in the first place. Or is Collins a unique product of her time and the time when Maine would give a non-incumbent Pub a Senate shot has passed?

I'm not sure. She has never missed a vote, so it wouldn't surprise me if she tried to beat Grassley's record!

[Del Tachi]

I see Collins as a lifer.

She's young relative to her level of seniority, and I could conceivably see her getting re-elected until she decided to retire.

Her and Gillibrand represent the current Senate's most likely candidates for first female PPT.