The Nifty Fifty House Party - Part XII: Maine

South Carolina was quite nice with its pristine golf courses, beaches and southern hospitality, but now it's time to move up Interstate 95 to the most northern state on the East Coast, one that used to be "northern Massachusetts" at one time...

MAINE

Rocky and coastal on the outside and forested and mountainous on the inside, Maine is also noted for its lobster and clam industries, as well as being home to a quarter of North America's blueberry stock. Outdoor recreation and sports are commonplace in the state, including hunting, snowmobiling, and boating, and New England's busiest port is located in the state's largest city, Portland. Stephen King portrays Maine extensively in his novels, and Casper laid claim to this state in his 1996 movie, ironically in the town of Friendship. One of my all-time favorite films, The Shawshank Redemption, was set right here in this state, which also gave us Milton Bradley board games, L.L Bean clothing, producer David E. Kelley, and Patrick Dempsey (yes, Dr. McDreamy was born in Lewiston and raised in Turner).

Compared to most other states, Maine is very independent in its political outlook. Moderates, both Republican and Democrat, run the show here, and an independent governor has served here as recent as 2002. Maine currently leans to the left and has voted for Bill Clinton twice, Al Gore once, and John Kerry once, while also serving as Ross Perot's best state in 1992 and 1996. However, the U.S. Senate has rarely seen Democrat Senators from this state as its two current Senators are moderate Republicans in Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and Kennebunkport is the longtime home of the Bush compound. While hardly any competition can be expected this year, Maine's independent streak could play a factor.

District 1 (S-Factor 6.3 DEM): Tom Allen is leaving his seat in the Portland area and the capital city of Augusta behind to challenge Susan Collins for her Senate seat, and the Democrats have nominated a well-known candidate in former Common Cause president Chellie Pingree. The Republicans are fielding Navy reservist and former Small Business Administration official Charlie Summers, who unsuccessfully challenged Allen in 2004, and will have some more breathing room in an open seat environment yet is surrounded by a poor GOP climate that could stymie an otherwise dark horse GOP bid. Prediction: Solid DEM.

District 2 (S-Factor 3.8 DEM): The rest of Maine, from Bangor to Presque Isle and all points north and west, is represented by Mike Michaud, who should have no trouble getting past Farmington Selectman John Frary despite the district's relative competitiveness and Frary's unusual campaign style replete with a website that resembles a Trader Joe's advertisement. Prediction: Solid DEM.

Next stop: Hawaii.