AUGUSTA – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and her re-election challenger Chellie Pingree each won newspaper endorsements Wednesday in their statewide race.

The Kennebec Journal of Augusta and Morning Sentinel of Waterville said Democrat Pingree deserves to replace first-term Republican Collins.

The two newspapers cited Pingree’s sponsorship of a state law to lower prescription drug prices. An editorial appearing in both newspapers said the Rx law was passed in Maine in large part because Congress refused to act.

The editorial also said Pingree is the preferable candidate because she opposes making President Bush’s tax cuts permanent “given the state of the economy, the growing federal deficit and the ongoing failure to fully fund special education.”

A Lewiston Sun Journal editorial said Collins deserves another term in Washington.

The Sun Journal said Collins and Pingree share similar views in a number of areas, but Collins’ centrist stance better represents Mainers. The Lewiston newspaper also cited Collins’ support of President Bush’s resolution to invade Iraq, but only as a last resort if diplomatic efforts fail.

The editorial called upon Collins to defend the Maine Rx law if she is re-elected, saying that although the law was sponsored by her opponent, “Collins has a duty to her constituents to defend it.”