AUGUSTA — Another new poll on the race for U.S. Senate shows a statistical tie between Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson.
The University of New Hampshire Survey Center pegs Jackson at 51% and Collins at 47%, results the pollsters describe as essentially a tie because of the margin of error.
And just like the New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Sienna survey released early Thursday, the UNH poll was in the field before a ProPublica story critical of Collins posted on Tuesday.
That NYT poll shows Collins at 49% and Jackson at 46%.
The UNH poll, conducted between Sept. 17-21, also asked voters about the race for governor, which features Democrat Hannah Pingree, Republican Bobby Charles and independent Rick Bennett.
Results put Pingree at 48%, Charles at 40% and Bennett at 5%.
Another interesting result comes from Maine voters’ views on outgoing Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat finishing up her final year in office.
The poll shows 57% disapproving of the way she handled the job as governor, 41% approving and 2% unsure.
One of Mills’ key initiatives in the last year, issuing $300 “affordability checks” to many Mainers, also earned a lukewarm reception in the poll.
Overall, 42% either somewhat or strongly support the program, 38% somewhat or strongly oppose it, with 14% offering no opinion.
The payments were sent to single tax filers making up to $50,000 a year, $75,000 for head of household or $100,000 for married, filing jointly.
The program cost about $155 million, with the money coming from the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the rainy-day fund.
Finally, UNH released new polling this week on President Donald Trump.
It shows 62% of Maine residents disapprove of Trump’s overall job as president, 37% approve and 1 % are unsure.