BY MATT WICKENHEISER

MaineToday Media, Inc.

It's Friday morning and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins pulls up to her campaign headquarters on Portland's Baxter Boulevard, her trademark red blazer matching the T-shirts her staffers all wear.

The Maine Republican boards her campaign bus with half a dozen campaign workers and firefighters and police officers there to support her on her southern Maine "first-responder tour."

Over the next six hours they travel from Kittery back to Portland, visiting fire stations and touting endorsements from the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, the Maine Troopers Association, the Maine Association of Police and the Maine Ambulance Association.

Collins shakes hands, poses for pictures, says a few words, has more than a few said about her, eats chili at a Legion hall and gets quick tours of fire stations -- where she sometimes sees equipment paid for through federal programs she's supported.

The two-term incumbent is in the final stretch of a tough fight to keep her Senate seat. She's being challenged by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, the Democrat who represents Maine's 1st District. As she's done in past campaigns, Collins buses around the state. Friday is a big publicity push before she returns to the Senate on Monday.

"I love the bus tour because it takes me to people's hometowns all through the state," Collins says, dangling a shoe off her toe as sits on the bus. "It's a wonderful way to hear what's on their minds. And it's fun. It really is."

At 9:05 a.m., the bus leaves Portland and heads south. Collins sits in the second row, reviewing her prepared statements and jotting notes.

Her "New Media" team spreads out across the first row: Sara Pietrowski types away on a laptop, blogging live about the day. Alana Brown, a recent University of Maine graduate, looks a bit stunned -- It's her first day on the job.

Lance Dutson is also, as usual, bent over his laptop, editing digital video the team just shot of Collins arriving at campaign HQ. Dutson is Collins' director of Internet strategy. His colleagues affectionately call him "Schroeder," after the piano-plinking "Peanuts" character.

Dutson will post numerous video spots on YouTube during the day. Pietrowski runs ahead of the bus, recording video as it pulls away from fire stations. By 9:20 a.m., Collins is moving around the bus. She chats with one man about campaign minutiae -- "Did we get you your sign yet?"

The bus is looking to rendezvous with its motorcade. Bobby Reynolds, Collins' director of coalitions, has arranged for members of the International Association of Fire Fighters' motorcycle club to meet them. Off the Maine Turnpike's Kittery exit, Reynolds sees two motorcycles and looks nervous. But 20 more are waiting around the corner. It's 9:45 a.m.

"Nice job Bobby. Good save," jokes Collins.

Felicia Knight, Collins' deputy campaign manager and a former TV anchor, works to keep the show on schedule. She says she sees herself as the group's vice principal.

The bus pulls up just outside of Gate 1 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard a few minutes after 10. Collins -- along with her opponent, Allen, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and others -- successfully fought to keep that gate open when the Pentagon had decided to close the yard.

Dan Tice, a shipyard firefighter, talks about why he's campaigning for Collins.

"She's thanking the firefighters for what we do, and we're thanking her for what she's done for us," Tice says. "She fights for us. I work at the shipyard. She has fought incredibly hard."

The bus is back on the road at 10:30 a.m., heading to York. As Collins gets off at the downtown fire station, the crowd she's brought with her -- about 50 motorcyclists and bus riders -- yells and claps, and two women jogging by add cheers. Collins sees a support truck that can serve as a canteen, providing hot food for hundreds at an emergency scene. The truck was bought with federal funds.

"It makes it concrete," says Collins. "This is the result of those efforts."

Reynolds desperately tries to move the show along. The tour is behind schedule so stops at York Beach, Ogunquit and Wells are relatively quick. In Sanford, Collins and crew are met by bagpipers. They will have 20 minutes to eat some chili, speak briefly and go.

After Sanford, there's a stop in Saco before the main event of the day. The Collins campaign is holding a big press conference in Portland, on Commercial Street, in front of the city's fire boats. Here all the groups officially endorse Collins.

It's about 2:40 p.m. as the bus chugs up Commercial and Reynolds give a pep talk. He wants cell phones turned off, and enthusiasm ramped up.

"Sen. Collins has bowled up a strike in the first-responder community," Reynolds enthuses.

"Hey Bobby, we were already going to vote for her," jokes Craig Poulin, executive director of the Maine State Troopers Association.

About 80 people are gathered for the media, which includes one local TV station and a reporter from Maine Public Radio. Collins picks up her endorsements, and thanks supporters.

"I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have the support of Maine's finest," she says. "With you on my side, we're going to celebrate a great victory come November."