A recent poll shows that among Maine voters, Democrat Barack Obama leads Republican John McCain in the presidential race, and Democrat Tom Allen trails Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate race.

In the poll, 46.1 percent said they would vote for Obama or were leaning toward voting for him; 32.1 percent were for McCain.

The same poll showed 55.8 percent were for Collins; 31.1 percent for Allen.

The statewide poll was released July 8 and was conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS Group of Portland. It sampled 400 likely voters in June and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who spoke to local Democrats in Lewiston Friday, predicted Allen’s numbers would improve as the campaign matures.

“Don’t forget: Tom starts out with no name recognition in northern Maine,” Dean said. Allen has represented southern Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives.

– Bonnie Washuk