--- title: "Collins attack ad suggests rival lacks Senate 'tools'" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/collins-attack-ad-suggests-rival-lacks-senate-tools" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/collins-attack-ad-suggests-rival-lacks-senate-tools" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/collins-attack-ad-suggests-rival-lacks-senate-tools.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/collins-attack-ad-suggests-rival-lacks-senate-tools" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-28T13:46:08.572Z" source_reported: "2026-10-28T13:00:00.000Z" updated: "2026-10-28T13:46:08.572Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-28T16:15:43.372687+00:00" --- # Collins attack ad suggests rival lacks Senate 'tools' *Ad featuring broadcaster Bill Green draws criticism from Democrats and former Collins aide.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named broadcaster; two independent outlets published full reports. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from candidates and campaign staff are included; context of the race is provided. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline uses loaded adjectives like 'elitist' and 'condescending' without immediate substantiation. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Senator Susan Collins' campaign released a new attack ad featuring broadcaster Bill Green. - The ad suggests Democratic candidate Troy Jackson is not qualified for the Senate because of his working-class background. - Jackson responded by stating he understands the struggles of Mainers, including affording heating. - A former Collins aide called the ad a sign of her campaign's decline, with polls showing Jackson leading. Republican Senator Susan Collins has released a new attack advertisement in the final week of her campaign. The ad features Maine sports broadcaster Bill Green, who questions the qualifications of Democratic candidate Troy Jackson for the U.S. Senate. ## Disagreement on ad's message The ad, as reported by Daily Kos, suggests Jackson is not fit for the Senate because of his working-class background, with Green stating, "We're sending someone to the U.S. Senate, and Troy doesn't have the tools he needs to be effective." Raw Story and Dothan Eagle reported that the ad suggests Jackson isn't worthy of the Senate seat because of his job. Newsweek reported Green said, "But we're not talking about buying a cord of wood here. We're sending someone to the US Senate, and Troy doesn't have the tools he needs to be effective." Alabama Live and Dothan Eagle stated the ad suggests Jackson isn't worthy of the seat because of his job. Daily Kos reported Jackson responded to the ad by saying he knows what it's like to run out of fuel and that Mainers are struggling to afford heating. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports printed below mention the Echelon Insights poll showing Collins trailing Jackson by 7 points. The right-rated outlets did not run this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 71% (5) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-28T16:15:43.372687+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-28T16:45:11.932Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the criticism directed at Senator Collins' attack ad. Daily Kos described the ad as "elitist and condescending" and stated that even Republicans were questioning her campaign's strategy. The outlet quoted Jackson saying, "Senator Collins, I think you are a little out of touch. This is about a cord of wood, and about Mainers struggling to afford to heat their homes this winter." Daily Kos also highlighted comments from a former Collins aide, Sam Patten, who stated the ad was a "death rattle" for her campaign and that "the race is over." Raw Story reported that Collins was "under fire" for the ad, which it said "disparag[ed] her rival's profession." WCSH reported Collins' message to voters was about who "can do more for the people of Maine." Dothan Eagle reported Collins was accused of punching down at her opponent in a "disgusting" ad. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the competitive nature of the Senate race and the final appeals from both candidates. Newsweek compared the candidates' final pitches to voters and noted that the race could determine the balance of power in the Senate. It reported that a Marist University poll showed Jackson leading Collins by 2 points. Newsweek quoted Green saying, "Susan Collins is one of the most decent and honest people I know. Now, I also know Troy Jackson. But we're not talking about buying a cord of wood here. We're sending someone to the US Senate, and Troy doesn't have the tools he needs to be effective." Alabama Live reported Collins was accused of punching down at her opponent in a "disgusting" new midterm ad. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [LGBTQ Nation](https://lgbtqnation.com/2026/10/quick-hit-the-race-is-over-gop-staffer-says-susan-collins-will-lose-because-of-her-own-terrible-ad) — “The race is over!” GOP staffer says Susan Collins will lose because of her own terrible ad - [Daily Kos](https://dailykos.com/stories/2026/10/28/800118666/elections/susan-collins-attack-ad-bites-her-in-the-ass) — Susan Collins’ new attack ad bites her in the ass - [SecretNews](https://secretnews.fr/susan-collins-face-a-troy-jackson-comparaison-des-derniers-appels-des-candidats-aux-electeurs) — Susan Collins versus Troy Jackson: Comparison of the Last Calls of the Candidates to the Voters. - [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/susan-collins-vs-troy-jackson-candidates-final-appeal-to-voters-compared-12626943) — Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson: Candidates final appeal to voters compared - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/541e2cf378d9cb84) — Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson: Candidates' Final Appeal to Voters Compared - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/susan-collins-2678154297) — 'Out of touch': Susan Collins under fire for ad disparaging her rival's profession - [WCSH](https://newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/sen-susan-collins-offers-message-to-maine-voters-one-week-before-election-day/97-d2787c50-32df-495d-a02a-a7737fe9613c) — Sen. Susan Collins offers message to Maine voters one week before Election Day - [Alabama Live](https://al.com/politics/2026/10/susan-collins-accused-of-punching-down-at-opponent-in-disgusting-new-midterm-ad.html) — Susan Collins accused of punching down at opponent in ‘disgusting’ new midterm ad - [Dothan Eagle](https://dothaneagle.com/news/state-regional/alabama/article_a20b7da1-c18d-571b-8739-ce9388077036.html) — Susan Collins accused of punching down at opponent in ‘disgusting’ new midterm ad ## Questions **What is Senator Susan Collins' new attack ad about?** The ad features broadcaster Bill Green and suggests that Democratic candidate Troy Jackson is not qualified for the U.S. Senate due to his working-class background. Green states that Jackson "doesn't have the tools he needs to be effective" for the Senate. **How did Troy Jackson respond to the ad?** Troy Jackson responded by stating that he understands the struggles of Mainers, including the difficulty of affording heating. He indicated that his lived experience would inform his work in the Senate to fight for working people. **What do polls say about the race between Collins and Jackson?** A Marist University poll showed Troy Jackson leading Susan Collins by 2 points. Daily Kos reported an Echelon Insights poll showing Collins trailing Jackson by 7 points, though this poll was not mentioned in the centre-rated reports. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/collins-attack-ad-suggests-rival-lacks-senate-tools. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Collins attack ad suggests rival lacks Senate 'tools'", https://mediabias.news/politics/collins-attack-ad-suggests-rival-lacks-senate-tools