AUGUSTA — Maine Democrats are filling the Augusta Civic Center for second straight day as they prepare to hear from the party’s U.S. Senate candidates this afternoon.

The three-day state convention is expected to draw more than 1,000 delegates from communities around the state. Delegates from individual counties are now holding caucuses to organize campaign volunteers for the election this fall.

Delegates this morning heard speeches from candidates for the Democratic National Committee. Two former leaders of the Maine House of Representatives, Glen Cummings and Hannah Pingree, spoke on behalf of the President Obama re-election campaign.

The four Democrats running in the June 12 primary for Maine’s open U.S. Senate will soon take the stage – one at a time – for what is likely to be most the important speeches of their primary campaigns. State Sen. Cynthia Dill, former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, state Rep. Jon Hinck and Benjamin Pollard are scheduled to begin speaking at 3 p.m.

Later, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will deliver the convention’s keynote address. O’Malley is considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2016.