Bangor - Labor Day is considered the unofficial kick-off to campaign season. While the candidates have been working on their campaigns for months, now is when the general public really starts to pay attention.

Maine Senate President and Republican Candidate for Maine's Second Congressional District Kevin Raye made campaign stops in Bangor and Lewiston on Wednesday. He said as a small business owner himself, he was proud to announce the National Federation of Independent Business is endorsing his campaign.

Raye said it's small businesses, like the Bangor Letter Shop where he made the announcement, that are the heart and soul of Maine's economy.

"Literally 99% of our businesses here in Maine are small businesses and that's who I want to fight for," said Raye.

Meantime, former Governor and Independent Senate Candidate Angus King was also in Bangor on Wednesday to officially open his campaign's third office. The campaign already has offices in Presque Isle and Brunswick and King will be opening others in the Lewiston/Auburn area and in Portland next week.

"It's just giving local people a place where they can go pick up signs, bumper stickers, know that the campaign is out and being active," said King.

Both are hoping their campaigning will give voters a clear idea of who they are and what they stand for.

"There'll be speeches and television ads and all of the pieces that go together to make up a campaign, but the whole idea is to have a conversation with the people of Maine and to talk about what's bothering them and what I could do as a senator to try to make their lives a little bit better," said King.

Raye said, "I'm going to be running a very aggressive campaign focused on the issues of what I think is important for this country. My argument that Maine needs a stronger voice in Washington, someone who's willing to stand up and be recognized. Someone who's willing to tackle the problem of Washington being so broken."

It goes without saying all of the candidates in Maine's races have a very busy 61 days ahead of them until November 6.

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