Anti-Collins Groups: As She Spoke, the Cash Poured In

Activists say they now have more than $3M to offer to the Maine senator's 2020 opponent
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 6, 2018 6:30 AM CDT
Anti-Collins Crowdfunding Groups: We've Got $3M to Defeat Her
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, answers reporters' questions after speaking on the Senate floor on Capitol Hill on Friday.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

She was deemed the Democrats' "last big hope" to derail the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court justice. But as it became clear Friday during Susan Collins' 45-minute-long speech on the Senate floor that Maine's GOP senator was going to greenlight Kavanaugh, money started flowing in to the two crowdfunding efforts set up to fund her 2020 opponent should she back the judge—efforts she has previously deemed an attempt to bribe her. By the time she wrapped up her words, USA Today reports, those two funds had more than $3 million stockpiled between them, with donations being posted every three seconds, the activist groups behind them said in a statement. One of the fundraising pages was apparently so overwhelmed with traffic, in fact, that it temporarily crashed, they added. Fast Company notes the Crowdpac site was back up within an hour.

Meanwhile, CNN reports on a surprise development from Susan Rice, national security adviser under President Obama. After an ex-White House official wondered on Twitter, "Who wants to run for Senate in Maine?," Rice responded with a one-word tweet: "Me." It turns out Rice's mother was born in the Pine Tree State, and Rice still has a home there. Rice later softened her tweet, adding, "Many thanks for the [encouragement]. I'm not making any announcements. Like so many Americans, I am deeply disappointed in Senator Collins' vote for Kavanaugh. Maine and America deserve better." The Hill reports on another big name seemingly taking aim, but at Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the lone Republican to say no on Kavanaugh. "Hey @LisaMurkowski - I can see 2022 from my house," Sarah Palin tweeted, leading to speculation she may be planning a primary challenge against Murkowski. (More Susan Collins stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X