AUGUSTA – Maine Democrats choose their nominee to challenge incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins on Tuesday, and many will be surprised to see they have a choice on the ballot. Political novice Tom Ledue is challenging 1st District U.S. Rep. Tom Allen for the nomination.

“I think the voter knowledge will be pretty low on this race,” said University of Maine political science professor Amy Fried. “I have seen a few Ledue signs, but I have not seen any TV or advertising.”

She said Allen has a big advantage in name recognition among Democrats that any challenger would have difficulty matching without a lot of advertising.

“Ledue is a well-spoken fellow that would do well if he could get on TV and package his message,” said Bowdoin College government professor Chris Potholm. “I think there are very few Democrats that know he is running because he hasn’t had the resources you need to run a credible statewide campaign.”

Potholm is also known for his consulting work with candidates. The only race he is involved with this election is in the Democratic 1st District primary, where he works for Ethan Strimling.

Ledue lives in Springvale and has never run for public office. An educator and wilderness guide, he has thought about the possibility of running for the U.S. Senate since he was a student at the University of Southern Maine.

He decided to run this year as the economy has worsened, and he is worried about the future his four daughters will have in the state.

“In 2008, in the wealthiest country in the world, the legacy we are leaving our children is unacceptable,” Ledue told Democrats last weekend at their state convention. “Washington is failing us. Our nation’s moral compass has become clouded.”

For many of the 3,700 Democratic delegates and alternates, it was the first time they had heard Ledue and realized that Allen has an opponent

In his speech, Allen barely acknowledged his opponent. In his nearly half-hour address, Allen mentioned Ledue just once. He mentioned Collins dozens of times.

“I want to recognize Tom Ledue,” Allen said. “I can completely understand how excited he is to be engaged in a campaign in this incredibly pivotal and exciting year.”

He used the bulk of his speech to highlight the differences between his record and that of Collins to the applause of the assembled party activists.

Allen has been involved in politics most of his adult life. He served on the Portland City Council and as the city’s mayor. He sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 1994, losing to former Gov. Joe Brennan.

In 1996, he won a very close primary election, defeating Dale McCormick by less than 2,000 votes. He went on to defeat incumbent GOP Congressman James Longley by a 33,000-vote margin and has held the seat with comfortable victory margins for 12 years.

He decided to seek the Senate seat this year because he believes Collins is on “the wrong side” of many issues important to Mainers from the war in Iraq to tax policy.

There do not appear to be many differences on the issues between the two Democrats. For example, on health care the positions appear similar.

“We must first take the most expeditious path to provide everyone with health care,” Ledue states on his Web site. “This will require a blend of the single payer and market driven strategies that are currently being debated.”

Allen, in an interview on his health care initiative, also called for a practical approach to solving the health care crisis.

“This is a practical way to get universal coverage in a country where people like choices, and my plan provides choices,” he said. “If people want to keep their private coverage, they can, but they will also have the option to buy the same insurance plan that members of Congress have.”

To many political observers, Ledue provides an updated definition of an underdog. Money is the lifeblood of politics, and Ledue has little. He took a second mortgage on his Springvale home to loan his campaign $20,000.

Ledue, according to the most recent reports on file with the Federal Election Commission, has raised $42,000, and that includes his loan to the campaign.

Allen, according to the FEC, has raised nearly $3.9 million in the latest filing.

Allen did stir some criticism by his refusal to debate Ledue. The Maine Public Broadcasting Network and several local radio and TV stations invited the candidates to debate. Allen declined to participate, his campaign said he was too busy.

“I think it was just outrageous and cavalier and condescending not to show up and have a debate,” Potholm said. “If I had been advising him, I would have said go there and debate and ignore him [Ledue] and talk about Collins.”

For Republicans, Collins is running unopposed for the nomination to seek re-election for her third term in the Senate.

Both Fried and Potholm believe the turnout will be light in the race with few local contests in the 2nd Congressional District to draw Democrats to the polls. There are six Democrats seeking the 1st District nomination, so the turnout is expected to be higher in that district.