In a surprising move, U.S. Senator Susan Collins has endorsed former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as a candidate in the Republican presidential primary. Collins, known for her skepticism towards former President Donald Trump, became only the third member of Congress to back Haley in her bid for the presidency.

Collins, who voted to convict Trump on a Democratic impeachment charge related to the Capitol riots, voiced her support for Haley in a statement to the Bangor Daily News. She described Haley as "extremely well-qualified" and highlighted her energy, intellect, and temperament, which she believes are necessary qualities to navigate the tumultuous times the country is facing.

Collins' support for Haley stands in stark contrast to the rest of her party, which has firmly rallied behind Trump as he emerged victorious in the initial four nominating contests. Despite the widespread support for Trump, Haley has vowed to remain in the race and has been maintaining a busy campaign schedule. She argues that the former president is too divisive to defeat President Joe Biden in the November election.

Haley's next campaign stop will be a rally in Portland on Sunday night, just two days before the Super Tuesday primaries in Maine and 14 other states. These primaries will play a crucial role in determining whether Haley has a viable path forward in the race. However, recent polling indicates that Trump enjoys strong support among likely Maine Republican primary voters, with 77 percent favoring him compared to only 19 percent for Haley, according to a poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire.

Senator Collins, who has a complex relationship with Maine's Republican base, has previously faced criticism from conservative factions within her party. Despite this, she has maintained strong ties with state lawmakers and successfully navigated challenges from national Democrats in 2020. However, her decision to vote to convict Trump resulted in censure from several county party committees.

During the 2016 election, Collins declared that she would not support Trump as the Republican nominee. In the following election, she avoided publicly stating her vote while being on the same ballot as Trump. In the current primary process for 2024, Collins has openly ruled out supporting Trump, but has refrained from endorsing any of his competitors, describing them as her friends.

Haley, who previously served as Trump's United Nations ambassador, is now the prominent Republican challenger against the former president. She has also ruled out running as a third-party candidate under the No Labels banner. Haley's congressional endorsements have been limited, with only Representatives Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a Collins ally, publicly supporting her candidacy.

Despite the late endorsements, it is unlikely that they will significantly impact the overall outcome of the nominating race. Trump maintains a commanding lead in national polls, averaging at 79 percent support, according to RealClearPolitics. This is despite facing multiple pending criminal cases, including federal charges related to his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents.

In the Democratic primary in Maine, President Joe Biden holds a substantial lead over his competitors, including Trump. Earlier polls showed Biden trailing Trump in Maine, but recent surveys suggest a shifting trend in favor of the current president. Concerns about Biden's age, 81, have been a topic of discussion among voters.

As the primary races unfold, all eyes are on the candidates and their strategies in the pursuit of their respective party nominations.