Susan Collins brilliantly shuts down attacks from Troy Jackson in heated Maine debate

Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins of Maine deftly fended off rhetorical attacks from her Democrat challenger and even threw some damaging counterpunches in their debate Tuesday night.

The wide-ranging debate was the first of four and covered everything from ICE to the president’s “Big, Beautiful” budget bill.

‘Democrats underestimate Susan Collins at their peril.’

Democrat Troy Jackson was clearly on a mission to tie Collins to President Donald Trump as much as possible, while Collins responded by threading the needle between defending her record and establishing her independence.

At one point she proudly expressed the difference between herself and the rest of the Republican Party. “I voted against my party more than any other senator on either side of the aisle,” she said.

Jackson went on the attack against Collins