The race for Maine's U.S. Senate seat continues to take shape as Democrats prepare to officially select their nominee at this weekend's state convention.
A new University of New Hampshire poll shows former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson leading incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, 49% to 46%, in a potential general election matchup.
Jackson's three-point advantage is just outside the poll's margin of error.
Jackson is one of four candidates who officially qualified for Saturday's Democratic nominating convention. However, Maine Beer Company owner Dan Kleban has suspended his campaign and endorsed Jackson.
Also read: Bellows, Shah, Wood, and Kleban drop out of Democratic Senate race
Jackson also enters the convention as the favorite after securing the support of a large majority of delegates selected during last weekend's county caucuses.
Maine's Senate race is also drawing increasing national attention.
A new Fox News Political Power Rankings report lists Maine as one of four Senate toss-up states that could determine which party controls the chamber next year. The other states are Alaska, Iowa and Ohio.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate. Democrats would need to gain four seats to take control, as Vice President JD Vance would cast the tie-breaking vote in the event of a 50-50 split.
