Poll: Majority of Maine Republicans want conservative alternative to Snowe

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) may have the support of Maine's Tea Party-backed governor in her reelection bid, but she could still be in for a tough primary battle next year.

New numbers from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) show 58 percent of Maine Republicans prefer a generic "more conservative" alternative to Snowe in 2012. And just 33 percent of Maine Republicans said they will support her.

According to the poll, 58 percent of Republicans in the state think Snowe is too liberal, while another 33 percent don't even think she belongs in the GOP, saying she should be a Democrat. 

Still, neither of the two Republicans who have already announced runs for the seat have made much headway. Businessman Scott D'Amboise and Tea Party activist Andrew Ian Dodge are largely unknown and haven't yet been able to command the sort of national attention that's already focused on a primary challenge to longtime Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.).  

D'Amboise is known by just 5 percent of Maine Republicans, while Dodge's name id stands at just 2 percent. In an early ballot test, Snowe led both candidates easily with 43 percent of the vote to 18 percent for D'Amboise and 10 percent for Dodge.

Snowe's approval rating among Republican voters in the state is also a net positive. A full 47 percent of Republicans approve of her performance, compared to 44 percent who disapprove. 

Late last year, Gov. Paul LePage (R), who won election with strong support among Tea Party activists, said he will support Snowe's reelection for purely personal reasons. LePage has a history with Snowe's late husband and said his relationship with the Snowe family "transcends politics." 

It's still possible other challengers will jump in the primary against Snowe, and pollster Tom Jensen notes that both Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) had solid approval ratings among Republican voters at this point last cycle. 

The Tea Party Express has also announced its intention to play a role in the race. And, as evidenced last cycle, that can translate to a sizable amount of ad money and considerable national attention.