PORTLAND – U.S. Rep. Tom Allen faces opposition from an educator from Sanford in his bid to become the Democratic nominee challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate election.

Tom Ledue, an administrator at Noble High School in North Berwick, said he filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday and plans to kick off his campaign Thursday with stops in Millinocket, Bangor and Portland.

The 44-year-old Ledue also is opening a campaign headquarters in Sanford on Friday and holding a kick-off rally in Portland on Saturday.

The prospective race between Allen and Collins has drawn national attention, making it one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the 2008 campaign.