PORTLAND – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told a radio audience this week that she believes U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina fathered a love child with his mistress, according to published reports.

Soon after Collins’ appearance Wednesday on Portland radio station WJBQ, known as The Q, the senator’s statements were picked up by the Web site Collins Watch. Other Web sites and blogs quickly followed suit.

The PolitickerME.com site pointed out that the radio hosts brought up the topic and offered this transcript:

Collins: “I feel sorry for his family because, how horrible. But also don’t you think he is the father of the child?”

Host: “Of course he is!”

Collins: “Would he go sneaking into a hotel in the middle of the night to see a child who is not his? I don’t think so.”

According to Politicker-ME.com, Collins said her staff would probably be upset that she was discussing the matter on air.

“I try not to judge people’s personal lives because you never know what’s going on, but in this case, he so presented himself as something he was not,” Collins reportedly said. “And when your wife is going through cancer treatments, I mean geez.”

Sen. Edwards, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, admitted last week to having a brief affair in 2006 with Rielle Hunter, who had been hired by his campaign to produce videos.

Edwards’ wife, Elizabeth, disclosed in March 2007 that her cancer, which had been in remission, had returned and that there was no cure.

Edwards has denied he is the father of Hunter’s 5-month-old daughter, and said he is willing to take a paternity test. However, Hunter refuses to allow the baby’s DNA to be taken for a test.

Collins is running for re-election against Rep. Tom Allen.

Staff report