It will be like a big class reunion. All the Republican politicians, leaders and activists from around the country will gather in St. Paul, Minnesota in one month to officially nominate John McCain.

Except for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, that is.

Collins has decided to sit the convention out in the interest of campaigning for her reelection bid. She faces a competitive race against U.S. Rep. Tom Allen. Herbert Hoffman, an independent, is also running.

“She is going to spend the time in Maine campaigning,” said Steve Abbott, her campaign manager. “The conventions are too close to the election for a federal candidate to give up the time to attend, especially a current office holder who has to be in Washington for a busy legislative session for much of September.”

Abbott noted that Collins did not attend the convention when she first ran for office in 1996.

The National Journal has the scoop on other politicians who will not be attending. They note that Allen will be at the Democratic convention as a delegate for Barack Obama.