50 Days: MAINE - Leaning Obama

With 50 days until the election, Maine is very close to being strong Obama, but I would still say they are in the leaning Obama section.

According to Pollster.com, Barack Obama leads John McCain in Maine- 52.8% to 39%. In the past 4 election cycles, Maine has voted Democrat:
Kerry- 53% to Bush- 45%
Gore-49% to Bush-44%
Clinton-52% to Dole- 31%
Clinton-39% to Bush- 30%

(http://www.pollster.com/polls/me/08-me-pres-ge-mvo.php)

While these numbers clearly favor Obama, the poll that had Obama leading over McCain 52 to 39 did not include the"independent voters." The Rasmussen Report has included the "leaners"
and actually have Obama only ahead of McCain by 8% rather than the 13% that pollster.com had him ahead by.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/maine/maine_mccain_pulls_within_ten

Also, according to the report above, the main issues in Maine include the economy and national security. With that, Obama wins the majority of Maine voters on the issue of Economics with his plan while McCain wins the majority of Maine voters on the issue of National Security with his plan.

Currently, Maine has a strong republican vote for the senate race (http://www.pollster.com/polls/me/08-me-sen-ge-cva.php), which could bring a few more voters out for McCain on November 4th, but not enough to take the state from Obama. Also, both the republican senators from Maine, Snowe and Collins, have been succesful in Maine because they are on the fringes of the national GOP, and they are more in tune with Maine's more reform liberal bend. Even as a Republican, Collins will bring out democratic supporters, the same supporters who would cast an Obama vote instead of McCain. With this being said, I do not see this senate race having any major affect on the presidential election.

Maine- Just some facts

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/maine/election_2008_maine_presidential_election

Maine, Mainly Obama

According to Pollster.com, Barack Obama leads John McCain in Maine- 52.8% to 39%. In the past 4 election cycles, Maine has voted Democrat.
Kerry- 53% to Bush- 45%
Gore-49% to Bush-44%
Clinton-52% to Dole- 31%
Clinton-39% to Bush- 30%