Sen. Angus King (I-ME), an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, today endorsed Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) for re-election over Democrat challenger Shenna Bellows. Earlier this year, King toyed with the idea of caucusing with the Republicans in the Senate if they won a majority of the seats in the 2014 elections.
Sen. Angus King has endorsed Sen. Susan Collins, from porch of Margaret Chase Smith's home in Skowhegan. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/EdxIdE4bvJ
— Mario Moretto (@riocarmine) May 16, 2014
Collins received the lowest score of any Senate Republican by the American Conservative Union's annual rating of congress. Collins remains popular in Maine and had a 36-point lead over Bellows in recent polls.
King, who defeated Collins in the 1994 Maine gubernatorial election, referred to her as the "Senate MVP" in a statement to the Associated Press.
"I think she's one of the Senate's MVPs — smart, tough, and always willing to listen. In my book, she's a model senator and I'm delighted to support her re-election."
King also praised Collins' work ethic and willingness to cross party lines for the betterment of her constituents.
Collins does not face a primary challenge in Maine's upcoming election on June 10.
