U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, stopped by the Kennebec Journal Tuesday to talk about his policies and the campaign against Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

He covered a wide range of topics, from the $700 billion bailout to health care to the war in Iraq. You can check the KJ or Morning Sentinel on Wednesday for a story on his meeting with our editorial board.

When it comes to the political side of the race, Allen said he's within eight points of Collins and he's feeling good about his chances.

"She's under 50 percent," he said. "In August, we were 25 points down. Do the math. We're moving very, very fast."

Internal polling numbers from the campaign are consistent with those released earlier this week by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which pegged the race at 49 percent Collins, 41 percent Allen.

Allen said his television ads are swaying voters because he's focused on the economy, jobs, health care, energy and Iraq.

"We are speaking much more clearly and forcefully to the needs people have in Maine, the fears they have, the hopes they have right now, than she is," he said. "That's why we're moving so fast."