AUGUSTA -- State Rep. Tom Saviello of Wilton stood on the Statehouse steps today to say he's leading a new group called Maine Citizens for McCain.

Saviello, an independent, is a former Democrat who dropped his party affiliation in 2005. He said he likes Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, because he's independent-minded.

The "Citizens for McCain" group is part of a national effort to attract support from Democrats and independents.

Saviello said he doesn't put any stock in polls that show Democratic Sen. Barack Obama leading in Maine. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey released Aug. 15 shows Obama leading 49 percent to 36 percent. If "leaners" are included, Obama leads 53 percent to 39 percent.

"I think as people begin to look at and start making fair comparisons, it's not going to make any difference," he said.

House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, said Democrats and Republicans are both making efforts to appeal to unaffiliated voters. He said Saviello votes with Republicans on most issues.

"This feels a little more like a Republican endorsing a Republican," he said.