Jonathan E. Kaplan has a must-read story in today’s Kennebec Journal looking at how U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, facing re-election in November, is positioning herself on Iraq.

“Collins has been less willing than fellow Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe and Democratic Reps. Allen and Michael Michaud to criticize President Bush's handling of the war and support legislation requiring the withdrawal of troops by a certain date. Iraq is expected to be a major issue in Maine's 2008 Senate race, even though the economy and health care rival it as leading issues in the presidential contest.

“Political analysts have suggested that the best strategy for Republican senators from states like Maine, New Hampshire and Oregon, which voted Democratic in the last presidential election, is to distance themselves from the president and their previous support for the war.”