Collins "Vulnerable"

Published Jan 12 2007, 08:18 PM by David S. Bernstein

The estimable Rothenberg Political Report -- generally very cautious in its predictions, as is the case here -- lists just two Senators (both Republicans) as "vulnerable" in 2008, in its first ratings of the 33 races, released today. One of those two is Maine's Susan Collins.

Five more Senators (3 R, 2 D) make the "Watch List," one being New Hampshire's John Sununu.

Your humble Talking Politics pundit has ranked Sununu slightly more vulnerable that Collins, and I'm sticking with that for now, even though rumors now suggest that Jeanne Shaheen might not be taking Sununu on after all. Several other good Democratic candidates have recently declared their interest in running in NH; meanwhile, the best Democratic candidate in Maine, Congressman Tim Allen, still hasn't announced his intentions.

Update: As my Maine-bred colleague Mike Milliard reminds me, the Senatorial hopes of Home Improvement star Tim Allen are slim. Tom Allen is the congressman from Maine. I stand corrected.