PORTLAND – State Sen. Ethan Strimling, D-Portland, announced today he has formed an exploratory committee for a possible 2008 congressional bid.

Strimling made his announcement at a rally at Reiche School this afternoon. If he runs, he would join four others vying for the Democratic nomination for the 1st District seat to be vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who recently announced he will challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins next year.

Strimling said the Iraq war, climate change and the growing gap between the rich and poor will be key issues in the campaign.

In recent speeches, he has stressed his early opposition to the Iraq war.

“We need to be sending our kids to Bates and Bowdoin, not Baghdad and Basra,” Strimling said today, contrasting two private Maine colleges with Iraq’s largest cities.

Strimling enlisted L.L. Bean chairman Leon Gorman, businessman Robert Monks and Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion to help with the exploratory committee.

He also recently launched a Web site, www.ethan08.com, where he advertised today’s announcement.