Following her electoral assault on Rep. Tom Allen, Maine’s political observers said Sen. Susan Collins had attained rarefied status: She became a legacy senator, who would serve until she alone decides to step down from the office.

In that vein, Collins joins her colleague, Sen. Olympia Snowe, whose regular thrashings of electoral opponents over the years had garnered her the same designation. Only retirement or promotion may stop Snowe now.

Yet longevity is not a legacy. It’s possible for venerable lawmakers to serve multiple terms, yet fail to make an impact. This was a point in the Collins-Allen race; each had 12 years in Congress, but vastly different experiences.

There were many reasons, all primarily political. A senator in the majority had much more opportunity to influence policy than a representative from the minority, especially in the deeply partisan Washington, D.C., of recent vintage.

Of course, this is all on its head now.

Collins and Snowe are minority members of the minority party: centrist, moderate Republicans whose votes will be wooed by majority Democrats, who are tantalizingly close to the filibuster-proof number of 60 in the Senate.

The re-election of Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia recently sealed the Democratic number at 59, depending on what happens with the contested race in Minnesota between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and comedian Al Franken, the Democrat.

This has turned national attention to the “ladies from Maine” who, by virtue of possessing majority views in the minority party, have become perhaps the most powerful pair of senators boasted by any state in this nation.

“Go forth and seeketh the women of Maine,” is how New York Times columnist Gail Collins on Dec. 8 dramatically advised a fictional “Democratic hero” seeking confirmation of a Supreme Court justice or passage of a fiscal stimulus package through the Senate.

It’s almost enough to recommend our senators just forgo their individual surnames for a common identity. Maybe we can just call them “SnoCol.” The senator with one name, but two votes.

Their power, though, is not novelty. Maine’s senators have earned it by sticking to principles, advocating for cross-aisle cooperation, and putting public service over ideological fulfillment.

Each has extolled bipartisan chops, Collins especially, because she was forced into defending them against attacks to the contrary by Rep. Allen. Snowe has issued tongue-lashing after tongue-lashing over the sad state of partisanship on Capitol Hill for a long time.

Until now, though, these were strong opinions. Now, in their positions as deal-breakers in the Senate, “SnoCol” should turn their words into action, and use this influence to move the country back from disaster’s brink.

And in doing so, build their legacy. After all, their public support is unquestioned and their political positioning and opportunity is rare and powerful.

It’s likely now, or never.