Elaine Bridge of Manchester said she's tired of living in a blue state.

A delegate to the Republican National Convention that begins on Monday, she said she's ready to get energized and hopes other Maine delegates are too.

She's hoping the momentum created by the convention will carry through to November to bring Sen. John McCain to victory.

After a busy primary season in the 1st Congressional District, it's been a quiet summer.

That will change after Labor Day Weekend.

One of what will likely be many joint forums for Democrat Chellie Pingree and Republican Charlie Summers was announced Thursday by a group of 20 Maine nonprofits.

The groups, all of which focus in one way or another on the environment, want the candidates to talk about global warming, alternative transportation, clean energy, land protection, wildlife habitat, water quality, reducing toxins and supporting Maine agriculture and fisheries, according to the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

The forum will take place from 3-5 p.m. September 28 at the event room on the seventh floor of the Glickman Library on the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus. The public is invited to attend free of charge, but space is limited. For reservations, e-mail info@trails.org.

Here's the text of the speech U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, delivered to the Democratic National Convention.

Also late Wednesday, his opponent, Sen. Susan Collins, released a video. It can be found here: www.SusanCollins.com.

Here's Allen's speech (as prepared):

I'm Tom Allen.

Everyday, the first rays of sunlight in America shine on Maine. This year, Maine can help lead our nation to a brighter path.

Diana and I welcomed our first grandchild, Charlie, six months ago. If he lives to be 92, Charlie will see the dawn of the 22nd Century.

What kind of country are we building for him, and for your children and grandchildren?

To meet our moral responsibility to them, we need bold leadership for change in Washington.

Great challenges lie ahead. Skyrocketing health care costs are crippling small businesses and bankrupting families. Mainers are struggling to pay their home heating oil bills this winter. The Bush economic policies have undermined the promise of America that here everyone has a reasonable chance to get ahead in life.

Barack Obama will make the right choices to deliver real change for our generation and for Charlie's.

We'll solve our energy crisis . . . provide affordable, quality health care to all Americans . . . and bring our troops home from Iraq so we can address problems here at home.

Decades from now, I want Charlie and his generation to know that together, we delivered the change that America needs. Thank you.

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, will address the Democratic National Convention tonight between 6:30 and 7, according to his campaign.

His remarks will be carried live on CSPAN.

Allen will be one of four Democratic Senate candidates to speak. He'll be joined by Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Tom Udall of New Mexico.

Today's theme is Securing America's Future, and Allen's remarks are expected to reinforce that idea.

Allen faces Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in the November election.

Richmond convenience store owner Gary Emmons is the star of a television commercial put out by the folks who oppose taxes on beer, wine, soda and flavored water to pay for Dirigo Health.

"I don't think this tax could come at a worse time," Emmons said as the camera showed people buying flavored water in his store.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, launched a bus tour in Bangor today, shifting her campaign "into high gear," according to her spokesman.

Collins, who is running against U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat, will make several stops in northern Maine throughout the day. This is the first leg of her tour, which will continue through the coming weeks.

Campaign staffers are live-blogging the trip and posting video updates on the campaign Web site at www.SusanCollins.com.

Dobson in court Tuesday

Laurie Dobson of Kennebunk, an independent who is trying to get her name on the U.S. Senate ballot with Collins and Allen, will be in Maine Superior Court in Augusta on Tuesday.

Dobson is contesting a decision by the Maine Secretary of State's Office that she did not have enough valid signatures to make it on the ballot. The hearing starts at 10:30 a.m., according to Dobson, who is urging supporters to call people who had their signatures thrown out.

Saviello stumps for McCain

This afternoon, state Rep. Tom Saviello of Wilton, an independent, will stand on the Statehouse steps to announce that he is leading a group called Citizens for McCain.

The group is part of a national grassroots effort to get support for Sen. John McCain from Democrats and independents.

Saviello is a former Democrat who quit the party in 2005 to become an independent. He will speak at 2 p.m.

Kennebec County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Rita Moran of Winthrop, who leaves Saturday for the Democratic National Convention in Denver, took some time to record her thoughts before she heads West.

Here's (most of) what she wrote:

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced today that the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain have agreed to hold three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate.

Here are the details:

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, just announced that he is postponing his Thursday trip to Waterville to talk about economic issues. No word yet on a new date.

In other news, the Maine delegation to the Democratic National Convention that begins in Denver next week is getting ready to head out. Delegate Rita Moran of Winthrop said they are working out the details of what meetings, events, and speeches to attend, along with packing sunscreen and water.

Maine is sending 24 delegates, 15 for Sen. Barack Obama and nine for Sen. Hillary Clinton. (That doesn't include superdelegates, add-ons, alternates or pages).

"I feel as though if I only get to to go one convention in my lifetime, this is the one to go to," said Moran, an Obama delegate.

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, will talk about jobs, trade and manufacturing at 1 p.m. Thursday in Waterville.

Allen is expected to talk about his economic plan at the corner of Front and Temple streets, where a "shuttered mill" will serve as his backdrop, according to his campaign.

This is the latest in a series of events in which Allen has announced various ideas for improvements in education, small businesses and rural development.

Allen is running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Out in Jefferson on Saturday, several local legislative candidates tossed candy, shook hands, and waived from antique cars as they participated in the annual parade.

With fair season in full swing, and other community events planned before school starts, you can bet you'll see legislators and their opponents out and about.

With all 186 legislative seats up for grabs in November (a few are uncontested) it's an exciting year. Here's a short list of what are expected to be competitive races in central Maine:

The Ralph Nader campaign is scheduled to turn in more than 5,500 signatures to the Maine Secretary of State's Office today in an attempt to get Nader's name listed as a presidential candidate on the November ballot, according to his campaign.

This time, he's running as an independent with a running mate named Matt Gonzalez. Nader announced his campaign in February on "Meet the Press." His campaign says polling numbers show him at 6 percent nationally.

What do you think of him? Will he be a spoiler or does he bring a much-needed outside perspective to the campaign?

The Maine College Republicans are looking for volunteers to take part in Super Saturday, an event planned for Saturday, Aug. 23, to help give Sen. John McCain a boost in Maine.

They plan to drop "thousands of pieces of literature" and make thousands of calls to help his candidacy. Different shifts are available statewide and they are promising swag -- a Super Saturday t-shirt and a chance to win Sea Dogs tickets.

To sign up, call Kristen at 944-4359 or e-mail her at kristen@mainegop.com.

And for the Dems...

As the Democratic National Convention draws near -- it starts Aug. 25 -- the Maine Democratic Party is planning events for those who don't get to go to the convention.

One idea?

The party is looking for people to host house parties on August 28th when Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to accept the party's nomination for president.

And, as with most political events this time of year, they want you to raise $500 while you're doing it.

Anyone interested should contact Erin Barnes at ebarnes@mainedems.org or 772-4353.

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap recently announced that his office has created a new Web page that makes it easier to vote absentee.

"In Maine, a person doesn't need a specific reason or be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot," Dunlap said. "As long as you are registered to vote, you can vote absentee."

The absentee ballot request form is online here.

Additionally, a complete Absentee Voter Guide is also available online.

Also, there are more than 50 municipalities that can accept electronically submitted absentee ballot requests. Municipalities will begin to distribute absentee ballots in late September.

John Frary, the Farmington selectman running for the 2nd Congressional District, is proposing that an oil refinery be built at the former Loring Air Force Base.

And, he says, he's ready for a fight with environmentalists who will oppose the plan.

Quoting himself in a press release, he wrote:

"Frary did not underestimate the difficulties of the project, saying 'What businessmen don't want is to turn this into a 5 year regulatory opera. That said, won't the enviro-kooks gas up their SUVs and drive to Augusta to block the project with every shyster shenanigan they can dream up?'"

Frary, a Republican, is running against U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, for the seat. He said he plans to meet with Republican state Senators Peter Mills, Doug Smith and Roger Sherman in the next two weeks to talk about his idea for a refinery.

An analysis recently published on the politico.com Web site lists the Maine Senate contest as the 10th out of 10 "competitive Senate races."

The premise of the story is that the November election is likely to be bad for Senate Republicans, and that the question isn't whether they will lose seats, but how many.

The RealClearPolitics/Politico Scorecard analyzes the Maine race, which features Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine versus U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine. They say Allen "could make the race close, but he hasn't yet."

Here's what else politico.com had to say:

"Polls show this race may be a blowout for Collins. It shouldn't be, because Maine is a left-leaning state and this is a Democratic year, and Obama is polling well ahead of John McCain there.

But Collins has defined herself as an independent in a state with a predilection toward independence."

So, I'll ask again: blowout or barn burner?