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“Celebrating Success, Fighting for our Future” was the theme of the Maine State College Republicans Convention this past Saturday. Roughly 100 enthusiastic Republicans gathered in the main ballroom of the Black Bear Inn and Conference Center to enjoy a day of table presentations and speakers, including Sen. Olympia Snowe.
Sponsored by the University of Maine College Republicans, the convention was a chance for College Republican organizations from campuses all around the state to get together and celebrate the victory of President Bush’s re-election last November. Speakers praised the efforts during the election and said that the momentum that built up over the past year is only the beginning of what is becoming a success story for young Republicans in the state of Maine. Snowe expressed how excited she was to have such a strong young Republican base in the state.
“What you have done has been remarkable in and of itself,” Snowe said. “Bush won the demographic of 18 to 29 year olds in this state, so this is your victory.” Last year the College Republican National Committee named the UMaine College Republican Committee the “Best State Committee in America.”
Snowe was introduced at the beginning of the convention by Dan Schuberth, the state chairman of the College Republicans. Going along with the emotion of the room he added praise to the students of Maine campuses for their efforts in last year’s election.
“You guys were at the front of the battle lines,” Schuberth said to the audience.
Schuberth, who called Snowe “the most accomplished statesman in Maine’s history,” added that it was because of the youth effort that the Republicans were so successful.
To begin her speech Snowe recognized all the people in attendance who had helped the Republican Party and who assisted her with her campaigns. She emphasized her recognition and appreciation of the College Republicans as a collective and what they had done in the past year above all else.
“You helped to increase the voter turnout to the highest level since 1968,” she said.
Snowe then reflected on her own political journey. She spent her college days as a political science major at the University of Maine, and said she found it a struggle to exist as a College Republican and a college student.
“Being a College Republican in the 1960s was indeed an oxymoron,” Snowe said.
Snowe ended with a final praise of the efforts of the Maine College Republicans.
“In Maine we are blessed with so many natural resources,” Snowe said, “but none, frankly, as important as the young people of our state.”
As she closed she thanked the audience and encouraged them to persist in their efforts.
“This requires passion, commitment and empathy,” she said. “I thank you for what you have done and for what you will continue to do in the future.”
A brief intermission followed Snowe’s departure from the podium and allowed her to mingle with the crowd and a number of delegates.
Following Snowe’s speech, a number of other prominent figures in the Maine Republican Party’s landscape that spoke. Maine Republican Party Chairman Randy Bumps and Maine Rep. Stephen Bowen talked to the crowd. Letters from Republican National Committee member Peter Cainchette and Sen. Susan Collins were read.
Bangor Daily News