Susan Collins

U.S. Senator Susan Collins on Wally Edge, at the Maine Republican State Convention last weekend. Go to PolitickerME.com for more information.

Superdelegate Frank Lautenberg hasn't decided who he wants to be the next President of the United States, but he's sure he doesn't want Susan Collins back in the United States Senate. Lautenberg traveled to Maine today to support Congressman Tom Allen, alleging that Collins allowed war profiteering to occur when she denied his request to investigate Halliburton in her role as chairwoman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Most national political observers view U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg as a good bet for re-election when he seeks a fifth term next year, but the 83-year-old Senator’s 42%-33% approval ratings in a Quinnipiac University poll released today shows him to be less popular than several Republican Senators viewed as especially vulnerable in the 2008 election.

Minnesota’s Norm Coleman is at 53%-40%, Oregon’s Gordon Smith at 52%-38%, New Hampshire’s John Sununu at 48%-29%, and Maine’s Susan Collins is at 48%-25%, according to recent independent polls taken in those states judging voters favorable/unfavorable ratings.

A compilation of approval ratings of all 100 United States Senators in their home states completed by SurveyUSA shows New Jersey's Frank Lautenberg at #100 with a 42%-43% rating in a December 12 poll. Jon Corzine, who leaves office next month to become Governor, was #80 at 50%-40%. The most popular Senators, in the eyes of their constituents: Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Maine Republicans who have approval ratings of 75% and 74%, respectively.