Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will host a fundraiser for Rep. Tom Allen (D), who is trying to oust Sen. Susan Collins (R) next year. The fundraiser will take place Friday morning at Augusta Country Club in Maine, according to a news release from the campaign.

“We absolutely must repair our nation’s tarnished reputation and once again become a source of inspiration and hope around the world,” Albright said in a statement. “Tom Allen is committed to strengthening our security and restoring our reputation. It is leaders like Tom Allen who make us proud and keep us safe.”

Though the fundraiser is not open to the media, Albright and Allen will take questions from reporters beforehand.

As of the previous fundraising quarter, Allen had more than $2.1 million in cash on hand. Collins reported having more than $3.1 million in her campaign coffers.

In related news, a Research 2000 Maine Poll commissioned by the liberal Web site Daily Kos showed Collins getting 56 percent of the vote in a head-to-head match with Allen, who received 33 percent. The poll was taken Oct. 15-17 and interviewed 600 likely voters. It had a margin of error of 4 points.

— Shira Toeplitz