PORTLAND – An independent candidate who lost a place on the Maine ballot after a court challenge of his petitions is launching a write-in campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Herbert Hoffman acknowledged Tuesday that a statewide write-in campaign faces long odds. He says he hopes to build a coalition among progressives, Greens, independents, disaffected Democrats and disgruntled Republicans. He faces incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

Hoffman lost a place on the Maine ballot when the courts ruled that there was a problem with the way some of the signatures were collected for nominating petitions.

Another independent, Laurie Dobson, says she is asking U.S. District Court to block state officials from completing the Nov. 4 ballots until the court can rule on whether Dobson’s and others’ rights have been violated by keeping her name off the ballot.