It would certainly explain a lot.

The focus on National news programs and National media (not to the exclusion of Maine).

The International travel beefing up her foreign policy credentials.

Her support of Presidential public financing (while she opposes financing of US Senate races).

The reported run of her Chief of Staff Steve Abbott for Maine Governor (I went to school with Steve at Orono High School and was in his brother Scott's class. I am also a candidate for Governor.

The relentless messaging machine (that is nothing new. Collins has long been a messaging machine as are many top public figures).

and more.

Of course there might be alternative explanations.

I personally believe that Senator Collins has about the quickest political astuteness/instincts of anyone I've seen.

Is the country ready for President Susan Collins?

If Sarah Palin was the anti-Hillary, then Collins could be well positioned to be the anti-Palin. Palin is common touch, at times even in-your-face, while Hillary was/is the brilliant but a bit detached, almost aloof (as much as anyone of Secretary of State Clinton's stature and position in life can be). Collins is pleasant whereas Palin can be antagonizing. Collins is seen as competent while for Palin the views are all over the map.

Perhaps most importantly, Collins is practical while Palin is viewed by some as more of an ideologue.

Interestingly, some felt that Presidential candidate McCain would pick Maine's other US Senator, Olympia Snowe as VP when he instead chose Palin.

Senators Snowe and Collins have been ranked as the two most popular Senators in the nation, and were Snowe to have the ambition to do so she could be a formidable candidate for the Presidency as well.

One key question: If Collins were to run, would the National media be as enamored with her as some of the Maine media have been. Collins doesn't get a free pass in Maine, but I would say that perhaps a majority of Maine news sources (starting with print) refer to Collins as a moderate essentially as a statement rather than as a proposition or assertion (much less a question). That, I believe, instills a sense of credibility and confidence in the minds of Maine voters, perhaps, that is very difficult to sway.

Ask Tom Allen, etc. (not speaking for him, just saw the race result).

Susan has also adeptly positioned herself in the past that when put on the defensive she leans heavily, I feel, to the role of victim.

Not that she overuses that in frequency by any means.

No one could know for sure, but I believe that Senator Collins would make a good, but not great, President. I see her as an able and effective doer, (i.e. highly competent), but not a visionary. I devoted several chapters to her in my book of Maine politics, policy and politicians "This Great State".

I mostly examine a few of her policy positions and political activities.

Elsewhere, while again on balance I believe that Collins is overall a talented and highly effective Senator, I have also asked whether MINO (moderate in name only) rather than the perhaps pejorative RINO might be better suited to her views (to my mind the Senator's actions also shift somewhat from Administration to Administration).

Senator Collins has stated publicly that she was asked to run for Governor of Maine in 2006. I think that her opportunities run much higher than that.