AUGUSTA (AP) -Hundreds of campaign signs adorned the Augusta Civic Center in a rainbow of colors as an expected legion of 3,000 delegates began gathering Friday for the opening of the Maine Democratic Party’s three-day convention.

With a presidential race still active and a lineup of congressional and legislative offices to be filled in Maine, the energy level was high as the biennial gathering awaited welcoming addresses from Gov. John Baldacci and U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and Mike Michaud.

“What you are doing this weekend and you will do between now and November will make the difference,” Baldacci said in his prepared remarks. “With your help, there will be better days ahead.”

Allen, who is in the race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat held by two-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, said he planned to draw attention to some of the achievements of the Democratic Congress in Friday’s speech, and focus more on the Senate race in his address Saturday.

Allen is favored to win the June 10 primary against political unknown Tom Ledue, who also is scheduled to address the convention Saturday afternoon. Saturday additionally will feature speeches by the six contestants for the party’s nomination for the 1st District seat Allen is vacating.

A major item on the weekend’s agenda will be choosing 25 Maine delegates to the party’s national convention, set for Aug. 25-28 in Denver. Caucus voting projected 15 delegates supporting Sen. Barack Obama and 9 for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, with the additional delegate to be nominated by state party Chairman John Knutson, an Obama supporter, and voted on this weekend. But that breakdown could change, depending on voting by the delegates.

Nationally, Obama on Friday was 42 delegates shy of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination, while Clinton was 244 short. In Washington, party leaders urged uncommitted delegates to make up their minds so a potentially divisive contest between Clinton and Obama can end.

In Maine, the Democratic convention got under way with three of Maine’s so-called “superdelegates” – those who are chosen on the basis of their prominent positions in the party – still undecided.

Allen, who has announced his support for Obama, said Friday it’s time for the undecided superdelegates to make up their minds.

“But I believe that in all likelihood Barack Obama will get a majority of the remaining superdelegates. What I fear is that if superdelegates who are not committed yet don’t make up their minds soon, this thing will drag on and on. The time of reconciliation will get pushed back,” the congressman said.

“We have to be reconciled sooner rather than later, and now is the time,” Allen added.

AP-ES-05-30-08 1631EDT