Democrats Eye Maine Senate Seat

"Before you say we're going to have a mandate for an individual or a business, you really have to create the system," said Allen when asked about Obama's health plan. "I want to create that public plan, and then I believe that most businesses will go in that direction.

"Otherwise," he added, "you're shutting down the smallest businesses, the ones that are on the edge. They might not be the smallest businesses always, but they are the ones most on the edge, and you don't want to do that if you're trying to cover everybody with health care."

Even though the Maine Senate seat is not expected to change hands, Senate Democrats are poised to pick up additional seats this November. Two years after the party picked up a narrow 51-49 majority, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee said that his party is almost certain to lose seats once again this fall, and said if the GOP can hold its losses to three seats it would be a "terrific night."

Allen's national fundraising pitch is that Obama, whom he endorsed three months after Maine's caucuses, will not be able to make good on his promise of change if Democrats cannot break Republican filibusters in the Senate.

"I think you need 57 or 58 or 59" Senate Democrats "in order to drive an agenda that represents real change on the biggest challenges we face in this country," said Allen.

While Obama is expected to carry Maine in the presidential race, Collins is currently seen as comfortably ahead in her re-election bid. Allen is hoping, however, that he will pull ahead of the two-term incumbent once his television ads tie the Republican incumbent to Bush.

"This race is going to be marked by a climb," he added. "I am going to make a prediction that in the last two weeks, this race is going to be very exciting."