Mainers give Obama 19-point lead in poll; Collins ahead
10/29/08 | 37 comments

Mainers give Obama 19-point lead in poll; Collins ahead


Clarke Canfield, The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — A new poll suggests a 19-point lead for Barack Obama over John McCain in the presidential race in Maine, while Republican Sen. Susan Collins maintains a 17-point lead over her Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

The poll released Tuesday by Market Decisions also indicates a referendum calling for a casino to be built in Oxford County is too close to call.

With a week left before Election Day, the poll found that 52 percent of those surveyed were either for Obama or leaning toward Obama with 33 percent for McCain. Fifty-four percent were for Collins or leaning toward her, compared to 37 percent for Allen. On the casino question, 49 percent supported a casino and 48 percent were opposed.

The poll indicated 87 percent of likely voters were dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., said Curtis Mildner, president of Market Decisions.

A year ago, the presidential election was expected to be a referendum on the war in Iraq, but has since turned into a referendum on the economy, Mildner said. Either way, Obama’s message of change has caught on with voters, he said.

“A year ago it was the war in Iraq people wanted to change. Now it’s the economy people want to change,” Mildner said. “The fact that so many people are dissatisfied says ‘regime change,’ regardless of the issue.”

Market Decisions, a Portland-based research firm, conducted the telephone survey of 425 people between Oct. 13 and 26. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

In the Senate race, the poll found that Collins leads Allen among those who are dissatisfied with the way things are going. Of the likely voters who said they were dissatisfied, 50 percent were for Collins and 40 percent for Allen.

The poll results suggest a tight race on the casino referendum. Less than 4 percent of those surveyed were undecided.

Mildner said voters apparently are being influenced by the large amount of advertising in support of a casino. Olympia Gaming of Las Vegas is proposing to build a $184 million resort casino in Oxford that would have slot machines and table games. The company says the casino would have 800 employees.

The poll also showed strong support for a referendum question that would do away with a newly passed tax on beer, wine, soda and other beverages that would help fund the state’s Dirigo Health program.

Sixty-six percent of those polled said they favored repealing the tax with 28 percent against a repeal.

Mildner said repeal supporters have run an effective grass-roots campaign with posters and campaign signs at convenience stores, bars and restaurants.

“I think the difference in the campaign has been the level of advertising in support of the referendum,” he said. “It’s everywhere.”

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Comments
37 comments on this item
On 10/29/08 at 6:41 AM, amanda wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Tjhis Mainer isnt voting for Obama....GO MCCAIN!!!!

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On 10/29/08 at 7:07 AM, GeraldWeinand wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's of interest that the BDN didn't ask Sens. Snowe and Collins about whether they agree with John McCain, who said that convicted crook Ted Stevens should resign.

The Press Herald reports that Snowe thinks Stevens should step down, but Collins thinks the voters of Alaska should decide.

Collins has given $10,000 to Stevens campaign - maybe that's why.

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On 10/29/08 at 7:24 AM, evasmith wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Is there any logical reason the vote on Number 2 is so close? Maine really is "anti-jobs" sometimes. Sad. Good luck Oxford County

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On 10/29/08 at 7:29 AM, GeraldWeinand wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

evasmith:

Reason? Try the thousands of dollars one casino company is pumping into advertising for it. Be aware though - the measure also lowers the minimum age to play slots from 21 to 19.

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On 10/29/08 at 7:33 AM, anne_of_mdi wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I really don't get this anti-casinos mentality. Isn't this just a remnant from the old blue laws? You can practically legally buy whiskey in church basements now, heck, you can gamble in church basements! Isn't it "nanny state" to try to "protect" adults from the evils of gambling? Most people gamble as a form of entertainment, no different than plunking down $100 for a broadway theatre ticket and having fun for a couple of hours.

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On 10/29/08 at 8:03 AM, mcatee wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Why is it that people have no problem with sending an 18 year old to war ! But god forbid they work or gamble in a casino!! Come on people open your eyes and your mind... OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

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On 10/29/08 at 8:41 AM, GlenburnGirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This Mainer isn't voting for McCain. Go OBAMA!! Your in the lead, don't stop now. Keep driving your campaign forward and don't look back at all the hateful, negative, terrorizing statements published by the Republican campaign. America is joyfully voting for you all the way to the end of this electoral road to victory with you as evidenced by the fact your leading in the national polls. The McCain campaign lost it's focus on what matters the most to the average person and that is why John McCain is not the forerunner. Isn't it ironic how attacking the integrity of another person only hurts you in the end?

If Obama is our next president, I will be proud and honored to watch this president lead our country. He will be the best president this country has ever seen!! GO OBAMA!

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On 10/29/08 at 9:15 AM, dismayed wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yes people, open your eyes. Ever since 2006 when the Democrats gained control of the Congress the economy has gone down the tubes because of their bungling of everthing they,ve touched. It's the same thing the Democratic governor and the Democratic Legislature have done in this state. The Democrats say that they'll bring us change, but ask yourself if we can stand any more of their type of change.

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On 10/29/08 at 9:22 AM, KellyD wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The company that would be running the casino has already stated that no one under the age of 21 would be allowed to either work or play in the casino. I can't believe that in today's economy we would be willing to throw away the potential for an additional 800 jobs with benefits and the millions of tax dollars the casino would generate to the State of Maine. Why doesn't the State run it's own gambling program - I believe it's called the lottery!

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On 10/29/08 at 9:24 AM, frostheev wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The New York Post reporter just did a story about barak hussien obama and finace fruad with credit cards!

It would appear that yo can make donations under $200 bucks to barak hussien obama campaign with any name, any address,you want as long as the credit card number is valid!

This is how this crooked ba$tard is getting all of his money!

See for yourself, here is the link:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10272008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/dubious_donations_135428.htm

I hope everyone reads this because obama is one crooked SOB!

But you people are too ignorant to realize what you are voting for!!!

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On 10/29/08 at 9:43 AM, KellyD wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

frostheev: we may be ignorant according to your standards; however, you simply epitomize racism and you are the most judgment person I have come across in a long time. You can have McCain and Palin. Let's just hope the rest of us don't have to have them.

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On 10/29/08 at 9:49 AM, truemainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Republicans are so stupid! Every time you knuckle draggers go into one of your hate filled tirades Obama's lead grows!! 19 points!! I'm loving it!! GO OBAMA!!

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On 10/29/08 at 10:00 AM, mainbad wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Ok, another irresponsible and biased article by the BDN! Let's poll 425 Mainers. Let's see, where can we find Obama backers? Perhaps in the neighborhood of one of the colleges? Come on people! Who paid for the poll? How many democrats and how many republicans were polled? What were the questions? Why did the poll provier offer his comments that happen to sound quite partisan? This is the kind of trash reporting that results in newspapers loosing circulation and advertising.

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On 10/29/08 at 10:13 AM, usafbangormaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Are you anti-casino supporters really that naive? Mainers have spent approx. 100 Million dollars in the past 6 years in CONNECTICUT ALONE! Go check the study on it, it's not just made up numbers. Let's just keep the money out of maine, and give it to the richest or one of the richest states in the country. I cannot understand how ignorant you people can be, do you honestly lack education or general knowledge of how things work?

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On 10/29/08 at 10:15 AM, usafbangormaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

And no, the legal age to work in the casino is 21, not 19...stop listening to the anti-casino adds and for ONCE do your own homework and read the proposal yourselves!

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On 10/29/08 at 10:47 AM, Bangorean wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Ahhh, usaf, someone understands! None of the hate-Obama pundits, and many of the hateMcPalin pundits seem to be capable of reading the facts for themselves, much less read the casino proposal. They take their "facts" from O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity on the one hand, and the left likes to "glean" its facts from left-leaning media.

I think you'll find that the people of Maine are not as ignorant or unable to comprehend the fallacies that the RNC in particular, and the DNC like to feed them. I'd really like to think the comments on these pages are not indicative of average Maine intelligence levels.

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On 10/29/08 at 11:24 AM, usafbangormaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If only the constitution said there couldn't be negative or untrue ads throughout campaigns about your opponents...But if I go that far I'd rather see a removal of "parties" because voting the party line is getting quite rediculous. Sadly, I'm only 22 years old and I can understand, and interpret these issues more than someone twice my age. I honestly wish I studied Psychology more in college to try and come up with a theory or reason on to why people are so dense.

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On 10/29/08 at 11:29 AM, SteveyDee wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Polls are bull. Fox has McCain closing in. Dont believe everything you see. It isn't over until the fat lady sings. Im not voting because they both sux. Obama does have a very cloudy past. People really should do their research before voting. Don't just vote for a guy on what he says he is going to do. Look what he has done also before jumping on a band wagon because you hate old GW and think McCain is like him.

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On 10/29/08 at 11:54 AM, PaleShadows wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Go Obama!!!

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On 10/29/08 at 12:33 PM, pseym4 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

LOL, of course fox has Mccain closing in you hammerhead it's a republic station. Msnbc has Obama pulling away because , guess what, thats a democratic station. Boys, Maine is not only the fattest and poorest state in new england, it's also the dumbest??? Wow. No wonder people leave this place.

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On 10/29/08 at 1:35 PM, glenna wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I had a phone call last night. Caller wanted me to participate in an election poll but as soon as I answered the first question - the year I was born - his questions stopped. My opinions weren't wanted. Guess it was a selective poll. But I'm still voting!

The caller didn't ask THAT question - or any of the relevant questions I could have answered following that one - like:

Are you registered as Republican: Yes.

Do you approve of the RNC ads for this election: No - Hell, no (but that probabky wouldn't be an option answer).

Has McCain/Palin addressed the issues you believe are important facing this country: No.

Will you be voting for any Republican candidates: Yes.

Will McCain/Palin be your choice for President/VP: No.

What networks have you watched to form your voting decision: All of them - although not too much Fox because it tends to focus on anger/hatred styles and I prefer objective information (When people start yelling and interrupting each other, I switch channels).

What print media have you used to obtain information regarding the candidates and the issues: Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle

What impressions have the television ads made on you: I've made up my mind. I'd like a little peace and quiet.

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On 10/29/08 at 1:38 PM, glenna wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

As for Senator Stevens - he's the state senator from Alaska. Let the people decide. Fortunately he up for re-election this year instead of two years from now so Alaskans get to tell the rest of us what they want us to think about a convicted felon representing them. If he was going to be a sitting senator then it would be a different matter and something the Senate Ethics Committee would probably have to address. But those who cast the first stone.....

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On 10/29/08 at 2:02 PM, ParkAvenueJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

.

Vote for Obama to be president with a DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED HOUSE and a DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED SENATE--that would be nuts!

.

There would be NO CHECKS on EXTREMIST DEMOCRAT SCHEMES.

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A DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED federal government may want to send underprivileged refugees to YOUR hometown to collect welfare.

.

You watch what SCHEMES the DEMOCRATS HATCH if YOUR vote helps DEMOCRATS to CONTROL the WHOLE GOVERNMENT!

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On 10/29/08 at 2:42 PM, Floridan wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Obama could have joined any church but instead picked a racist all-black church. I'm not voting for this con-man.

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On 10/29/08 at 2:51 PM, KellyD wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

ParkAvenueJoe: Maybe they'll send them all to your neighborhood.

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On 10/29/08 at 3:15 PM, concerned15 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"Obama could have joined any church but instead picked a racist all-black church. I'm not voting for this con-man."

Floridan what does this mean. Because he went to an all black church you arent voting for him. How is that racist? How is that different from you going to an all white church. Im terribly confused on why you are using this notion to say Obama is a con-man and that you are not voting for him.

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On 10/29/08 at 3:42 PM, ParkAvenueJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hey, concerned15: How is it that it's respectable for a church to be a "black church"--but if a church were a "white church"--it would be called racist and demonized???

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On 10/29/08 at 4:37 PM, David889327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Obama would have us believe that Bush (and McCain=Bush) is responsible for the current economic crisis. Where was Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee? Here is a discription of the Committee's responsibilities:

"The Committee oversees all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities. The Committee continually reviews the laws and programs relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and international development and finance agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Committee also ensures enforcement of housing and consumer protection laws such as the U.S. Housing Act, the Truth In Lending Act, the Housing and Community Development Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, and financial privacy laws." http://financialservices.house.gov/jurisdiction.html

If it was possible to anticipate and prevent the crisis, why didn't Rep. Frank speak up?

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On 10/29/08 at 5:10 PM, ParkAvenueJoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

.

Obama is supposed to represent ordinary people, yet he is spending zillions of dollars on his campaign, including his styrofoam-columned, democrat nomination extravaganza.

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And now tonight he's paying zillions for his TV monologue about how he went to harvard so he knows how to fix everything.

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Just who's giving him all that money and what does he owe them for it?

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On 10/29/08 at 5:22 PM, SteveyDee wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

pseym4, yes dipshit, thats what I was pointing out. Don't believe the polls. Polls have a way of bending toward who ever they want.

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On 10/29/08 at 6:02 PM, elmerfudd wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

ParkAvenueJoe: I really think it's time for you to take your same ol sob story to the people of New York. As for Obama spending "zillions" I really think that you need a reality check (you will get one come election day) but way to distort the facts just like McSame has done. At least when Obama goes on t.v. tonight he will be pointing out the things that he will try to do for this country (hmm, maybe because he has an answer) instead of having NO clue, going off subject, and character assassinate his opponent. SteveyDee: I guess we should not believe that Collins is ahead then, right? The only time that a Repub believes that a poll is correct is when the poll is in their favor.

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On 10/29/08 at 6:24 PM, DowneastIdiot wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Another reason Maine is in the dumps, the morons we elect

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On 10/29/08 at 6:47 PM, birdie wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Dismayed You hit the nail on the head people keep blaming the republicans for our economic woes and are not looking at the whole picture. I am a registered Independent have never voted republican but am sorely tempted.

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On 10/29/08 at 8:24 PM, searoses wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

evasmith: the reason is that if Washington county couldn't have a gambleing joint neight should southern Maine....washington county is poor and needs jobs...

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On 10/29/08 at 8:35 PM, searoses wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

that should say neither in my post not neight...sorry

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On 10/29/08 at 8:41 PM, searoses wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

birdie: the trouble with your theory is the dems. tried to get things done to make things better but old GW..would Voto the bill and they didn't have the votes to over ride...remember Bush is the DESIDER!!!

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On 10/30/08 at 9:00 AM, concerned15 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

hey parkavenuejoe:

That is where you have gone wrong. There is nothing wrong with saying its an all black church. It doesnt mean that no "white folks" can join it just happens to be that there are all black people who attend the church. Just as many of the churches in northern maine are all white churches.....again not meaning that no black people can join they could if there were any black people around. Not racist whatsoever on either end. By saying Obama is a racist because he goes to an all black church is just insanity. If he went to an all white church would that be okay or would he still be a racist because he is half white? Oh no thats right because certain people just cant get pass the fact that his skin is a little darker than theirs. unbelievable....

Its a little different if maybe you told me he went to an all black church and they cast down any white person who tried to attend. Or made the white people sit in the back of the church. Things like this would then make racism be prevelant but your debate just does not hold up....

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