In a speech prepared for delivery on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, sought to rally support for legislation she says would change the U.S. course in the Iraq war. The bill supported by Collins calls for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq but does not set a specific timetable.

“It is clear that our country needs a new direction in Iraq. We need a new strategy that will redefine the mission and set the stage for a significant but gradual withdrawal of our troops over the next year,” Collins said in her prepared remarks.

Collins’ speech came on the same day Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, announced support for another bill that does set a specific date for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Collins said that she and Snowe hold very similar positions when it comes to Iraq policy.

“Both Olympia and I seek a dramatic change in our mission in Iraq,” Collins said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “We both recognize the U.S. military has done its job and it’s time for the Iraqis to step up to the plate and take responsibility.”

The legislation co-sponsored by Collins would enforce the recommendations of the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group, including shifting the primary focus of U.S. military forces in Iraq from combat to training, with the goal of removing all troops not necessary for training, force protection and counterterrorism by March 2008.

Democratic leadership in the Senate insists the language of the Iraq Study Group amendment is too weak and instead has set forward its own bill, the one Snowe announced support for Wednesday.

Collins, who has not completely ruled out joining Snowe in support of the leading Democratic bill, insists her bill “strikes the best balance” between both parties.

Collins said her priority is changing American policy in Iraq and getting U.S. troops home as soon as possible. That means backing legislation that has the best chance of getting passed, according to Collins.

“If we keep falling short of the 60 votes, we are not changing policy,” Collins said.