Maine Senate ad controversy

News · Heat 7.1 / 10 · 2 shows · 10m airtime

A pro-Collins ad began airing the weekend before the election featuring a Maine woman who says she thought she was being interviewed to praise Susan Collins and was surprised to see her clip in a pro-Troy Jackson ad. Republicans in Collins's orbit produced the response spot. The closing ads have since turned personal: Collins's spot says Jackson lacks the tools to be effective, and Jackson's rebuttal says he would not buy a cord of wood from her. The discussion frames the exchange as evidence of Collins's campaign strength and Democratic problems in a nip-and-tuck Senate race.

How 2 podcasts covered it

1. Ruthless Podcast, 2026-10-30 (11:32 to 13:43)
   Covers the ad and the woman's response
   Covers the Maine Senate race and the new Collins-orbit ad in which a woman says she was misled into a pro-Jackson spot. Frames it as a sign of Collins's campaign strength and Democratic nominee troubles, with no new reporting beyond the ad itself.
   New angle: A woman says she was misled into appearing in a pro-Troy Jackson ad; Republicans cut her response into a spot.
2. The Megyn Kelly Show, 2026-10-30 (14:29 to 22:20)
   Covers the Collins cord of wood ad fight
   Covers the Maine race's closing week: Collins's 'cord of wood' ad, Jackson's rebuttal, and the cousin attack, then pivots to clips of Amy Acton in Ohio. The Collins ad fight is new to the record; the cousin material retells what the super PAC ad coverage already had.
   New angle: Collins's closing ad says Troy Jackson lacks the tools to be effective; Jackson's rebuttal says he wouldn't buy a cord of wood from her.