While Maine's gubernatorial race remains neck and neck, some interesting polls are coming out for the 2nd Congressional District house race. The race, which was named by The Hill as a "sleeper race to watch," could be an unexpected pickup for Republicans come November.
In a Portland Press Herald poll released yesterday, results showed that the Republican candidate Bruce Poliquin has a 10-point lead over Democrat Emily Cain and independent candidate Blaine Richardson. Poliquin was the former treasurer of the state, while Cain currently serves in the state Senate.
The seat was formerly held by Democrat Mike Michaud, who is currently running for governor, and the seat has been held by Democrats for nearly 20 years. Maine's 2nd District has consistently supported Democrats in national elections as well.
Poliquin has a 10-point lead over Cain, while independent Blaine Richardson is a distant third, according to a Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
Among likely voters, Poliquin garnered 40 percent support, Cain had 30 percent and Richardson had 3 percent. All three candidates received additional support when interviewers asked voters whom they were leaning toward, but the margins between the candidates did not change.
While the polling sample is admittedly quite small, this is certainly encouraging news for the Maine GOP.
The congressional survey, part of a larger statewide poll, has a 6.2 percent margin of error because of the smaller sample size. The survey of 220 likely voters on landlines and cellphones was conducted from Sept. 18 to Sept. 25.