Pan Atlantic Group Poll: Obama, Collins lead in Maine

Presidential candidate Barack Obama and U.S. Senate incumbent Susan Collins, R-Bangor, are in the lead in Maine, according to a poll recently released by the Pan Atlantic SMS Group of Portland.

Also, voters disapprove of the Oxford County Casino project and many people remain undecided whether to send Republicans or Democrats to the Legislature.

The poll was conducted between June 10 and June 18 and interviewed 400 Mainers identified as likely to vote in the November election. 

Here are some highlights of the poll:

U.S. Senate race: 47.5 percent of voters will vote for Collins, and 8.3 percent are leaning toward her. 28.8 percent will vote for Tom Allen, 2.3 percent are leaning toward him. 13.3 percent are undecided. Residents of Northern and Down East Maine are more likely to vote for Collins.

Presidential race: 36.8 percent of Mainers will vote for Obama for President, and 9.3 percent are leaning toward him. 25.8 percent will vote for John McCain, and 6.3 percent are leaning toward him. 3.8 percent will pick another candidate, and 18.3 percent are undecided.

Bush approval ratings: 68 percent of Mainers believe President Bush’s presidency was a failure. 17.5 percent believe it was a success. Females are more likely to disapprove than males.

Voting excitement: 49 percent of residents in the First Congressional District are excited about voting in the presidential election, and 34.8 percent of those living in CD2 are excited about it.

Oxford County Casino: 51.3 percent either disapprove or are leaning toward disapproval of the Oxford County Casino project, 36.1 percent approve or are leaning toward approval, and 12.8 percent are undecided.

Maine House: For state House races, 36 percent of voters will vote or are leaning Democratic, 25.8 percent will vote or are leaning Republican, and 6.3 percent will vote for or are leaning toward another party. 32 percent are undecided.

Maine Senate: For state Senate races, 35.3 percent of voters will vote or are leaning Democratic, 25.5 percent will vote or are leaning Republican, and 8 percent will vote for or are leaning toward another party. 31.3 percent are undecided.

Baldacci approval ratings: Approval ratings of Gov. John Baldacci have remained constant since August, 2005. 52.8 percent of voters feel he is doing an excellent or good job, and 45.1 percent of voters feel he is doing a poor job. His approval ratings were highest in September, 2007 when 63.6 percent of voters approved. Ratings were lowest in August, 2005 when 49.1 percent of voters disapproved.

Direction of the state: 59.8 percent of Mainers think the state is headed in the wrong direction. Democrats and independents are more likely to think the state is headed in the right direction than Republicans. Residents of the First Congressional District are more likely to think the state is headed in the right direction than residents of CD2.

Jobs and employment is the biggest economical issue facing Mainers, followed by gas prices.