AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine Democratic Party says Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin will be the keynote speaker May 31 at the state convention in Augusta.

Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and now serves as assistant majority leader and majority whip.

Durbin’s trip to Maine is seen as demonstrating the importance of the state’s Senate race in which Democrat Tom Allen is challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

AP-ES-05-16-08 1647EDT