'She will be retired': Susan Collins served notice her re-election hopes are on the line

Should ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-D FL) make it through a Senate hearing and then a vote of the Senate floor to be the next attorney general, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) could be putting her political future on the line.

That is the opinion of MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, who pointed out that the Maine Republican has survived controversial votes before –– notably putting Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court despite allegations of sexual assault — but Gaetz, facing even worse accusations, would be a bridge too far for voters if she gives him a pass too.

Speaking with his panel, the "Morning Joe" host pointed out that Collins is facing re-election in 2026 and her Gaetz vote, should it come to pass, would likely be central to her re-election hopes.

For Collins, who would be 79 at the end of her term if she wins re-election in 2026, Scarborough stated she could be forced into retirement if she approves the embattled Florida Republican.

"Two years from now, Susan Collins will either be re-elected, or she will be retired," he began. "And if anybody thinks that Susan Collins can win in Maine, when she rolls over –– I'm not saying she is, she's been very critical –– but if the Senate says, 'Oh, yeah, we're going to just give up our constitutional prerogative,' Susan Collins has to run in Maine and a lot of other Republicans have to run in Senate re-elections two years from now."

"Does he really want to have a guy that has a 17-year-old junior saying she was raped at a drug-fueled orgy or the things over Tulsi Gabbard?" he asked. "I'm saying Susan Collins, because to be honest with you, I don't know who else is running two years from now, but I know she is and in pretty deep blue state."

"These senators understand that they're going to be a lot of twists and turns," he pointed out. "Donald Trump elected in '16, Democrats great year in '18. Barack Obama swept in '08, and then the Tea Party, and you can go back to Ronald Reagan."

"These senators know this and so, I just don't know they're going to go, 'No mas, we're scared of you,' because what people are feeling today is not what they're going to be feeling two years from now," he warned.

You can watch below or at the link.