PORTLAND – In a freewheeling discussion on a radio talk show, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins speculated that former Sen. John Edwards is the father of a former campaign worker’s baby.

“I feel sorry for his family, because how horrible,” Collins, a Maine Republican, said during an appearance on WJBQ-FM’s morning talk show Wednesday. “But also, don’t you think he is the father of the child?”

Edwards, the former North Carolina senator and 2004 Democratic vice presidential candidate, has admitted he had an affair with Rielle Hunter, who produced videos for Edwards as he prepared to launch his presidential campaign. Edwards has said he’s willing to take a paternity test to show he’s not the father of Hunter’s 5-month-old daughter.

When asked during the Portland radio program about the affair, Collins said she thought Edwards was the father. Collins and the radio hosts laughed about Edwards’ denial that he had gone to a Beverly Hills hotel to visit Hunter because he is the father.

“But would he be sneaking into the hotel in the middle of the night to see a child who’s not his? I don’t think so,” said Collins.

The remarks by the second-term senator, who is seeking re-election, were part of a 10-minute exchange between Collins and the talk show’s hosts, Meredith Manning and Lori Voornas. The portion dealing with Edwards unleashed a flurry of Internet chatter as well as on blogs and news sites.

Collins’ Democratic rival in her re-election race, Rep. Tom Allen, had no comment on Collins’ radio remarks, said Carol Andrews, the 1st District congressman’s campaign spokeswoman.

“Congressman Allen is spending his time talking to Mainers about his plan to strengthen the economy and has no time for spreading rumors,” said Andrews. Allen’s campaign schedule called for a news conference in Bucksport on Friday afternoon to present more details of his economic proposal.

Collins’ campaign manager, Steve Abbott, said Collins and Edwards served together on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee between 2000 and 2002.

Her campaign spokesman, Kevin Kelley, was in the studio during Collins’ radio appearance.

“Obviously, she made these comments during a lighthearted radio interview, during which she also discussed important issues, such as the high cost of energy and health care,” said Kelley. “Like most Americans, she was shocked by the revelations and she truly feels sorry for Elizabeth Edwards and her children.”