Two U.S. Senate heavyweights were in Maine on Monday to campaign for candidates in the upcoming election.

Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, campaigned in Old Town for Senate hopeful Chellie Pingree. Downstate in Portland, the campaigns of Sen. Susan Collins and Peter Cianchette got an assist from former presidential candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Cianchette, who is in a four-way race for governor, and Collins, fending off a Democratic challenge from Pingree, both said they were pleased to see McCain, who described both Republicans as two of Maine’s independent thinkers.

“I’ve also been known as an independent in the Senate – and there’s been far less generous descriptions of my role there, but I do admire people like Peter and Susan who adhere to principle first,” McCain said. “Peter has always impressed me that way, and of course I serve with Susan in the Senate where she supported campaign finance reform, the patients bill of rights, just two items on a very long list. She’s also a very valuable member of the Armed Services Committee on which I serve. So I’m a great fan of Susan Collins as well.”

McCain also took time for a few book signings of his latest work, “Worth the Fighting For: A Memoir” which picks up where his first best seller, “Faith of My Fathers,” left off in 1972. That was the year McCain, then a naval aviator, returned home from Vietnam after 51/2 years in a prisoner of war camp.

Collins described McCain as “a great friend and a tremendous ally.”

“He’s someone I really admire, not just because he’s a war hero, but because, to this day, he stands up and says what he believes,” Collins said. “I’m honored to have him here.”

McCain said it was becoming increasingly difficult to attract qualified candidates to run for public office in the face of campaign tactics that subject candidates to barrages of negative advertising. Both Cianchette and his Democratic opponent, John Baldacci, have traded charges that both campaigns have engaged in or failed to discourage negative television ads.

“I’m encouraged that Peter is willing to serve; he’s got a lovely wife and two beautiful children, and there are obviously other things that he could be doing with his life besides serving in public office and putting himself and them through this very grueling election campaign,” he said. “So it seems to me that the least that I can do is support his candidacy.”

In introducing McCain to about two-dozen supporters at the Regency Hotel, Cianchette said Mainers admire and appreciate the Arizona senator’s straight talk.

“It’s a refreshing, honest and welcome change to the politics as usual,” Cianchette said. “He’s one of America’s true heroes, and I am honored and proud to have his strong endorsement.”

Later in the afternoon, across town at the Eastland Park Hotel, more than 400 guests showed up at Collins’ pep rally to meet McCain and wish the Aroostook County native good luck next week.

“We quickly ran out of tickets,” Collins said. “He is just a tremendous draw and people are inspired by him. I’m really fortunate that he’s here, because he doesn’t campaign for everybody.”

The backing of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Pingree’s concerns regarding health care and services for veterans was all the group of more than 40 veterans at the VFW Post 3381 in Old Town needed to hear about democratic senatorial candidate Chellie Pingree Monday evening.

“She’s going to be a good veterans advocate and a good senator for Maine,” Post Commander Ray Perkins said after stating before the duo’s appearance that, “I’m not endorsing anybody. We’re just giving them an opportunity to speak.”

It took the crowd just a matter of minutes before its first round of applause roared through the building.

“Mainers, all of you, are people known for common sense and rock bed sense of right and wrong. I come to you appealing to that common sense,” Kerry said. Pingree “has been a champion for reforming health care here in Maine and veterans could not ask for a better advocate in Washington.”

Pingree was quick to point out the need for more doctors for the more than 5,400 veterans waiting at least six months for treatment from a veterans hospital or clinic, the need for increased pensions for veterans, lower costs for health care, increased spending on education and the need for job production and retention in Maine.

“Our government should be standing up for our veterans,” Pingree said. “Many of the health care concerns I have are tied in with the veterans’ concerns.”

“We need to fight to get veterans proper treatment,” Kerry said. “Before we create another generation of veterans we better keep our promises to our current generation of veterans.”

The two left their appearance in Old Town and joined a rally at the Ramada Inn in Bangor for Pingree where 2nd Congressional District candidate Mike Michaud, gubernatorial candidate John Baldacci’s sister Lisa Baldacci, and a number of local political figures made their appearances to support Pingree, and in turn she promised to take the fight she has waged in Maine against pharmaceutical companies to Washington, D.C.

“The most important poll is the poll on Election Day,” Pingree told the crowd of about 80 at the Ramada Inn. “We’re going to do what’s right for the people of Maine, and we can change the world.”

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, will likely announce his intention to run for president in 2003, a member of his staff said Monday night. Kerry said he was still contemplating whether or not to run for president.

“I think she’s a smart and capable person and is one of the most impressive candidates in our field,” Kerry said. “For anybody, even [George W.] Bush, she’s a very qualified candidate to have in Washington.”