Is Maine's Senate Seat Now in Play For Republicans?

Lost in the bad news cycle for the Republicans is some exciting polling that shows several unexpected, incumbent Democrats in real danger.

Anti-Washington sentiment is running near all-time highs, and voters in some key Districts and States are looking to throw incumbents out. With pickups possible in Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin, Republicans have a real chance to push back on the so-called "Blue Wave" and actually expand their Senate majority.

There is surprising news from Maine where State Senator Eric Brakey has intriguing numbers showing that this once sure Democratic State may now be back in serous play.

Maine, which was nearly won by Donald Trump in 2016, has a two-term incumbent Governor, firebrand conservative Paul LePage and a conservative Congressman Bruce Poliquin. Trump lost the State by a mere 3 points and won one of the Electoral College votes for the second district.

The seat is currently held by incumbent Angus King, who is technically an independent but caucuses with the Democrats and has a very partisan Democratic voting record. Add to the mix Democratic Party nominee Zak Ringelstein, a Democratic socialist in the style of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Zak sucks up the far Left votes and King is feeling squeezed.

I've seen numbers conducted by a top national pollster that have King at 46, Brakey at 29, and Ringelstein at 8.

In a nutshell, King is an incumbent under 50 and is in danger of losing voters once this race heats up on the issues, and the undecideds are now leaning to President Trump, giving Brakey tremendous room to grow. It is not unlikely we will see this race deadlocked in the low 40's by October, where Trump supporters' excitement advantage, driven by a desire to protect their President from a partisan impeachment, turn out in droves.

There is another-factor. Eric Brakey is one heck of a candidate! I saw his work up close when he we worked together on the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign. As the state chairman, Eric won the Maine delegation for Dr. Paul and has a tremendous grassroots organization built in the process. Maine is a state where grassroots activity takes on extra importance, and Eric's skills and network are second to none.

So keep your eye on Maine. If Eric Brakey gets a little cash infusion and some TLC from President Trump, the Republicans have a chance to expand the 2018 map in a real way.

Doug Wead is a presidential historian who served as a senior adviser to the Ron Paul presidential campaign. He is a New York Times best-selling author, philanthropist, and adviser to two presidents, including President George H.W. Bush. He is the author of "Game of Thorns: Inside the Clinton-Trump Campaign of 2016." Read more reports from Doug Wead — Click Here Now.