[img_assist|nid=2162|title=|desc=|link=none|align=none|width=420|height=90]Susan Collins' re-election bid, which was once of the country's most closely watched U.S. Senate races, is becoming increasingly more secure for Collins, a new Politicker.com analysis shows.

The race is currently ranked as the 12th most-competitive race out of the 35 U.S. Senate races this year.

[img_assist|nid=2163|title=U.S. Sen. Susan Collins|desc=Congressional Photo|link=none|align=right|width=162|height=200] "On paper this race should be one of the most competitive in the county. This year Republican Susan Collins faces a good candidate in a good year for Democrats. Maine voters are the poorest in the region, they dislike the Iraq war, they allow high taxes. But it turns out they also love their Republican female U.S. senators," said Politicker.com Managing Editor James Pindell, the author of The Pindell Report. "There is still a chance Democrat Tom Allen can gain from the environment around him, but those opportunities get smaller by the day."

The Pindell Report aims to provide the country's most dynamic and richly reported ranking and analysis of U.S. Senate, U.S. House, gubernatorial and presidential swing states.

The non-partisan report ranks races in order of their competitiveness. Therefore the No. 1 race in the country is the most likely to be decided by one vote. The race ranked last is believed to have a larger margin of victory -- no matter if it is a Republican win or Democratic win. In determining competitiveness the reports takes into account polling, fundraising, past election data, demographic changes and interviews with the nation's top political strategists. The report also heavily uses Politicker.com's reporters out in the field covering these elections for the network's state-based websites. The rankings are evaluated daily ensuring rankings are current.

Interestingly, neither of Maine's congressional races are among the 59 top competitive House races and the state is also not considered to be a presidential swing state.

COMPLETE DETAILS:

• Pindell Report: U.S. Senate
• Pindell Report: U.S. House
• Pindell Report: Governor
• Pindell Report: Presidential Swing States
• About the Pindell Report