Her reign in Maine is easy to explain

摘要

Potatoes are serious business in Aroostook County. For miles along the roads of this sparsely populated part of Maine all you can see are potato fields. Stands selling hefty bags of new potatoes for $5 are more common than lobster shacks. In mid-July when the potato blossoms are in full bloom, the little town of Fort Fairfield hosts the Maine Potato Blossom festival, with a Potato Queen beauty pageant, a tractor pull and a parade. Susan Collins (pictured, left), a Republican from Aroostook who is looking to hold on to her United States Senate seat, and Shenna Bellows (right), a Democrat looking to capture it, both marched in this year's parade, shaking hands and waving to potential voters. The spectators, many holding red "Susan Collins" balloons or sporting "Collins" stickers, cheered heartily for the senator, who has been in office since 1997 and is extremely popular.