Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland) will be 2008’s “Lincoln Chafee race.”

Dean, who had dropped in on the Maine delegates’ breakfast Tuesday morning, was referring to the 2006 race in Rhode Island where the popular Republican Sen. Lincoln Chaffee lost his seat in the wave of anti-Republican sentiments.

“He (Allen) is one of the best campaigners and the best Congresspeople in the country.”

Collins remains up in the polls, but both Dean and Allen said they were not concerned.

Dean said that Allen will be behind until Election Day, and then he will pull out a victory.

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Allen dismissed these polls, saying the only one that matters is on Election Day.

“We believe from our research that we are going to win," said Allen. "This is a race I expect to win.

Allen said that Collins is ahead because people know her. Once Mainers see their messages, he’s confident they will support him.

Allen stressed bipartisanship, noting four recent bills he has submitted with both Republican and Democratic support.

Collins is currently airing an ad campaign touting a similar message of bipartisanship.

Allen is one of four U.S. Senate candidates speaking on the convention floor Wednesday. He said his 90-second speech will be forward-thinking, hopeful and will place an emphasis on taking care of people back home.

“It won’t be dramatically different from what I say every day in Maine,” he said.

Collins is skipping the Republican convention to campaign. Allen said it is important to be at the Democratic convention to stand by his party and Barack Obama.

At Tuesday’s breakfast, Dean said Maine is relatively safe for Barack Obama. The more people that come out and vote for him, however, the bigger difference it will make for Allen and other down-ballot Democrats.

Maine, “Isn’t on our list of places that we’re really worried about, but we’re a little worried about it,” Dean said.