Though Democrats have a good shot at winning several Senate seats this year, one of their top opportunities looks like it remains well beyond reach, a new poll shows. Despite picking up one of the toughest possible challengers, Republican Senator Susan Collins is still maintaining a big lead, giving the GOP hope that at least a few Northeastern Republicans will still be in office after this year.

The survey, conducted by the SMS Group from 6/10-18, polled 400 adults for a margin of error of +/- 5%. Collins and Rep. Tom Allen were tested.

General Election Matchip
Collins..........56
Allen............31

The sample of adults is less reliable than a sample of registered or likely voters, who have to go through more screening questions to be included in the pool. But the results track with an April poll that also showed Collins with a lead of more than twenty points.

Voters in Maine are not pleased with the direction of their state -- 60% say Maine is off on the wrong track, while just 23% say it's going in the right direction. But Collins has always been popular, if not as popular as the state's senior senator, Olympia Snowe.

Unless something changes, Collins is headed towards re-election. Democrats have the money, both nationally and in Allen's bank account, to make a significant investment in the state, but starting down more than twenty points is not a position that leads to a lot of electoral victories.