Susan Rice Considering 2020 Challenge to Susan Collins in Maine

President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, says she is considering running for the U.S. Senate in Maine in 2020. She said she would decide what to do after next month’s midterm elections.

If Rice runs she would try to unseat current Republican Senator Susan Collins, whose decision to support Brett Kavanaugh was decisive to his confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Speaking Sunday in New York Rice said Collins “put party and politics over her own stated principles” and that by supporting Kavanaugh “has betrayed women across this country.”

Rice initially expressed an interest in a Senate run on Friday, but then seemed to back off later after it was widely publicized.

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After rumors began to fly that Rice might run against her, Collins quickly went on the attack. According to CNN’s Manu Raju, Collins said Rice doesn’t really live in Maine. She also made a comment that Rice “pleaded with me” to introduce her during her confirmation hearings as United Nations ambassador.

“Susan Collins takes a whack at Susan Rice, saying she doesn’t really live in Maine and says Rice “pleaded with me” to introduce her during her confirmation hearings as UN ambassador.”

Actually Collins had endorsed Rice and touted her Maine roots. Rice has had a home in the state for 20 years and that her mother was born there, since her grandparents were lifelong Maine residents.

“UN Ambassador Nominee’s Deep Roots in Maine,” Collins’ website once said before it was removed. “Dr. Rice’s ties to our great state are the foundation of her character. Her grandparents emigrated from Jamaica to Portland one hundred years ago,” a capture of the endorsement reads.

“Although I knew of Dr. Rice when she worked at the National Security Council, I first met her when we both participated in seminars sponsored by the Aspen Strategy Group. I was so impressed with her brilliance and nuanced insights as we discussed foreign policy challenges,” the endorsement continued.

“I was very grateful for Senator Collins’ extremely generous endorsement of my nomination and her detailed description of my deep ties to Maine.  2009 seems like a long time ago now — on so many levels.”

Collins has also come under fire from some on Twitter, claiming she does not really live in Maine. She purchased a Capitol Hill rowhouse where she and her husband live in Washington.

If Rice is in, she begins the race with a massive war chest after a series of donors invested in an opponent if Collins supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Thus far, the total is approaching $3.5 million.

Rice has not ruled out a Senate run, and said on Sunday that she will give it “due consideration.”

“I have been moved by the enthusiasm,” Rice told The New Yorker. “I’m going to give it due consideration after the midterms.”

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.