PORTLAND, Maine - Maine's two U.S. senators - one Republican and one independent - say they will get to work with President-elect Donald Trump to move the nation forward.
"I did not predict these results, but I was not completely surprised by them," says GOP Sen. Susan Collins. "I view Donald Trump as having won this election fair and square and he is now president of all of us."
Collins says she was encouraged by Trump's victory speech. "He made a point to reach out to everyone in this country and spoke of unifying us. That theme is one that our country desperately needs to heal the divisions that have frayed the social fabric of this nation."
Collins says she thinks Congress can find common ground with Trump, especially on the issue of rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. "That's an issue that has bipartisan support and it's one that I believe both parties can unite around."
Collins' independent colleague, Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, agrees that infrastructure is an issue of common concern. He says his biggest concern with a Trump presidency is his lack of experience with foreign policy.
"In foreign policy the president has enormous unchecked power: where to station troops, where to send troops. Of course, in the case of a nuclear confrontation - the ultimate authority with no check and balance whatsoever - that is a huge responsibility," King says. "And that's an area where I hope Mr. Trump will take a deep breath, talk to some people, talk to some of the leaders in our military and really get a handle on what the implications are."
Trump has vowed to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama's signature health care legislation. Both Collins and King say they think the ACA is in need of reform, but King says he hopes it's not repealed.
"I would hate to see us say, 'Well, to heck with those 20 million people who have health insurance who didn't have it before, they're going to be on their own - and by the way, all of you who have preexisting conditions from a disease you had as a child and can't ever get health insurance, tough luck,' " King says. "I just hope there's going to be a way to navigate that."
