BY DIETER BRADBURY

MaineToday Media, Inc.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins speculated on a live radio broadcast this week that former Democratic U.S. Sen. John Edwards is the likely father of a child born to a woman with whom he recently admitted having an affair.

In appearance on WJBQ-FM in Portland on Wednesday, the Maine Republican told the station's morning show hosts that she was shocked when Edwards admitted to an affair with a campaign aide while his wife was in remission from breast cancer in 2006.

"I feel sorry for his family, because how horrible, how horrible," Collins said. "But also, don't you think he is the father of the child?"

For over a year, Edwards denied reports that he had an affair with Rielle Hunter, 42, who produced videos for his presidential campaign. Last week, the former 2008 presidential candidate admitted to a brief affair but said he is not the father of Hunter's 5-month-old baby.

Collins and the hosts laughed about Edwards' denial that he had gone to a Beverly Hills hotel to visit Hunter because he is the father. Edwards acknowledged that the hotel meeting took place, but said he would submit to testing to prove that he didn't father the child. "But would he be sneaking into the hotel in the middle of the night to see a child who's not his?" Collins asked. "I don't think so."

The senator's comments were included in an approximately two-and-a-half-minute portion of a 10-minute conversation, captured on video, that morning show host Jeff Parsons later posted on his blog on WJBQ's Web site. The Edwards topic was introduced by fellow hosts Meredith Manning and Lori Voornas.

The video is now circulating on the Internet -- mainly on political blogs written by Democrats, but also on news sites, including a blog on ABC News.com.

Collins and Edwards served together on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee between 2000 and 2002, according to Steve Abbott, Collins' campaign manager.

Edwards represented North Carolina in the Senate from 1999 to 2005; Collins has served in the Senate since '96.

Collins, of Caribou, is seeking re-election on Nov. 4 and faces a challenge from U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat who represents Maine's 1st Congressional District. Carol Andrews, the spokeswoman for Allen's campaign, said Thursday that Allen would have no comment on the Edwards matter.

"Congressman Allen is spending his time talking to Mainers about his plan to strengthen the economy and has no time for spreading rumor," Andrews said.

Parsons said in an interview that Collins has appeared on the show several times and is always relaxed and candid. He said he was not surprised by her comments about Edwards.

"Personally, I thought it was fantastic -- the senator actually saying what a lot of the country is thinking," Parsons said.

He continued blogging about it Thursday, writing: "I never expected this to happen, but when I posted video of our interview with Senator Susan Collins on The Q Morning Show, the Collins haters seemed to muckle right onto my little video to bash her as much as they can."

Kevin Kelley, communications director in Portland for Collins' re-election campaign, said he was in the studio during the senator's appearance.

"Obviously, she made these comments during a light-hearted radio interview, during which she also discussed important issues, such as the high cost of energy and health care," said Kelley, who noted that the campaign had not heard from constituents about the show. "Like most Americans, she was shocked by the revelations and she truly feels sorry for Elizabeth Edwards and her children."

Jen Burita, Collins' spokeswoman in Washington, said she would have nothing to add to Kelley's comments on the subject.

Attempts to reach Edwards on Thursday were unsuccessful.