Editor’s note: PolitickerME.com has attempted to break down the state Senate races. Click here for a comprehensive overview, and on the following links for a closer look at the three tossup races – Senate District 1, Senate District 15 and Senate District 22.

Senate District 15 Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello (R-Poland) vs. Deborah Simpson (D-Auburn) PolitickerME.com rating: Tossup

The candidates:

Incumbent Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello (R-Poland) is seeking re-election against Deborah Simpson (D-Auburn).

Snowe-Mello is completing her second term in the Senate, and prior to that, spent four terms in the House. She serves on the Marine Resources Committee and the Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

She is a strong proponent of lower taxes and smaller government.

Simpson is wrapping up her fourth term in the House, where she serves as chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee.

She has become the poster child for the Clean Elections Act. Before she ran for office, Simpson was a low-wage worker and a single mom. She became one of the first people elected under the public financing system.

Puppies have become a key issue in this race. Last year, an illegal puppy mill was raided by state Animal Welfare officials. Snowe-Mello stepped in and questioned the tactics used by the department.

This gave ammunition to the Democrats, who immediately hit Snowe-Mello on standing up for kennel owners who mistreated the animals. It has become a key issue in the race, with the Democratic Party launching this website and this radio ad (link courtesy of MainePolitics.net).

Mike Tipping has more on the issue in his Downeast column.

The district:

Senate District 15 includes four towns in Androscoggin County.

• Auburn: 14,607 registered voters – 4,988 Democrats, 3,320 Republicans, 6,299 unenrolled
• Durham: 3,099 registered voters – 792 Democrats, 880 Republicans, 1,427 unenrolled
• Poland: 3,764 registered voters – 1,021 Democrats, 1,049 Republicans, 1,684 unenrolled
• New Gloucester: 3,720 registered voters – 981 Democrats, 1,066 Republicans, 1,673 unenrolled
• Total: 25,190 registered voters – 7,782 Democrats, 6,315 Republicans, 11,083 unenrolled

Snowe-Mello has been able to hold onto this seat by getting the bulk of the votes in the outlying districts, which are more conservative.

Therefore this race – and possibly control of the Legislature – will be determined by voter turnout in Auburn.

Simpson lives in Auburn and has a lock on voters in her district. However, her district had one of the lowest turnouts in the state in 2006.

Democrats in the state have put emphasis on get-out-the-vote efforts in Androscoggin County, however, as it could serve as a key area in both the presidential and U.S. Senate races, and it’s no accident that Simpson was put front and center in a number of events for Presidential candidate Barack Obama. A strong showing for Obama in Auburn could guarantee a victory for Simpson.

Campaign finance:

This race has been the top priority for the Democratic Party when it comes to independent expenditure spending.

$64,586 has been spent on Simpson’s behalf. Of that, $18,229 came from the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, $41,058 came from the Democratic Party, $1,337 came from the Maine People’s Alliance, $2,549 came from the Maine Conservation Voters Action Fund, $490 came from Maine Friends of Animals and $923 came from the Androscoggin County Democrats.

Snowe-Mello has received the third-highest amount of independent expenditure spending among Senate Republican candidates. $22,781 has been spent on her behalf. Of that, $7,881 came from the Maine Republican Party, $3,642 came from the Maine Prosperity PAC, $4,149 came from the Maine Senate Republican Committee, $3,924 came from the Maine Truck PAC, $3,186 came from the Maine Association of Realtors.

Both candidates are running under the Maine Clean Elections Act. After matching funds, Simpson has received $21,775 in public financing and Snowe-Mello has gotten $57,234.