John Ensign

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, said his committee will not be expending any resources in Maine in the last two weeks of the election.

In a conference call with reporters today, he said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) will win by 10 to 15 points against her opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland).

“We have watched Sen. Collins, she has never been under double digits (in the polls),” Ensign said. “People know her and know her record.”

On the call, Ensign addressed the necessity of preventing the Democrats from attaining 60 seats in the Senate.

WASHINGTON - National Republicans, along with independent groups, are indicating that they are prepared to play defense in two Senate races that were once thought to be unwinnable for Democrats but are now in doubt. As polls across the nation have shown growing dissatisfaction with Republicans, U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky have seen their challengers gain momentum.

On Tuesday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee went up with a web advertisement saying that Georgia "can't afford" Chambliss' Democratic opponent, former state Rep. Jim Martin.

And on Wednesday, the conservative advocacy organization Freedom's Watch is going on the air in the Georgia Senate race with a television advertisement that praises Chambliss for "leading the fight against higher taxes in the Senate."