Collins accuses Schumer of pushing attack ads filled with ‘outright lies’ in tight Maine race
Susan Collins accused Chuck Schumer and Democrats of running false attack adverts against her and other Republican candidates, calling them “outright lies”. The accusation comes two days before Election Day in Maine, where Collins is seeking re-election in a closely watched contest against Democrat Troy Jackson.
A Fox News poll cited in the article put both candidates at 49%. Collins said one advert falsely linked her to Jeffrey Epstein and claimed similar adverts targeted two Republican colleagues; these are her allegations. She argued the campaign was being nationalised, presented herself as an independent willing to work across party lines, and said her support for Donald Trump was lower than some figures suggest.
In short
- Collins accused Democrats of running false attack adverts.
- She and Jackson were tied at 49% in a cited poll.
- Collins emphasised her independence and bipartisan record.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Collins’s case is that campaign adverts should not make serious personal associations or claims that are false or misleading, particularly when voters have little time to assess them before polling day. If the advert linked her to Epstein without sound evidence, challenging it would protect voters’ ability to make an informed choice; she also argues that a closely fought Senate race should be judged on her record and independence, not national partisan messaging.
The case against
Democrats could argue that forceful advertising is a legitimate way to scrutinise a senator’s record, alliances and political support, especially when control of the Senate is at stake. Claims Collins calls false may be interpretations of documented associations or votes, and voters can weigh the advert alongside her response and other reporting; without seeing the advert or its evidence, the allegation alone cannot establish that it is a lie.
Explained simply
Susan Collins is a Republican senator from Maine, a state in the north-east of the United States. She is seeking another six-year term in the Senate, the chamber of Congress where each state has two elected senators.
Her Democratic challenger is Troy Jackson, a former state Senate leader. The close contest has drawn national attention because control of the Senate can affect whether a president’s policies and appointments are approved. Collins has often presented herself as willing to work across party lines, while Democrats and Republicans are competing for voters in a closely divided state.
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