AUGUSTA, Maine – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins addressed the crowd Friday at the Maine GOP Convention, urging Republicans to unite behind her campaign and the party’s candidates heading into November while taking direct aim at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the national Democratic effort to defeat her.
Collins was introduced after remarks emphasizing her long voting record in Washington and the importance of keeping Maine’s U.S. Senate seat in Republican hands.
Collins thanked party leaders, staff, supporters, her Senate staff, and her husband, Tom Daffron, before opening her remarks by honoring members of the military, veterans, firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement officers.
She contrasted her view of police officers with that of a Senate candidate she said had used a “truly slanderous word” to describe all police officers.
“Well, my friends, I choose a different word,” Collins said. “Heroes.”
Collins pointed to her work securing funding for Maine communities, including $87 million over the last five years to renovate, repair, or replace 45 fire stations across the state. She also cited funding for ambulance services, hospitals, public safety buildings, communications equipment, roads, bridges, and internet access.
Collins emphasized her role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noting that she is the first Maine senator in nearly a century to hold the post.
But Collins reserved some of her sharpest remarks for Schumer, accusing him and his allies of returning to the same political playbook they have used against her in past campaigns.
“And speaking of Chuck Schumer,” Collins said. “For the fourth time, I’m here to tell you we are not going to allow that to happen.”
Collins said Schumer and his allies are already running ads against her and preparing to spend millions more in the coming weeks.
“You’ve already seen the ads that he and his allies are running on television, and they are spending millions more in just the next two weeks to misrepresent my votes,” Collins said.
She said calling the attacks “misrepresentation” was “being polite,” accusing Democrats of intentionally distorting her record because they lack a positive agenda of their own.
“He does this because he and his far-left allies don’t have a positive agenda of their own that they can run on,” Collins said.
The senator described Schumer’s agenda as a combination of “tired old failed liberal policies” and a “radical progressive wish list.”
Collins then turned to one of the most pointed lines of the speech, comparing Schumer’s attacks to an attempt to cover up a tattoo.
“Chuck is trying to cover up their bad ideas by attacking others,” Collins said. “But many people see through that. You know, when I think about it, his approach is like trying to cover up an outrageous tattoo. You can paint over it, but we all know what’s underneath.”
Collins said her own campaign will focus on her record of delivering for Maine, her experience, and her seniority in Washington, which she said makes a major difference for the state.
She contrasted her optimistic view of Maine and the country with what she described as the bleak tone of her opponents’ campaigns, pointing to the names of their early campaign videos.
“Grant Platner called his deeply angry,” Collins said. “Janet Mills called hers fear.”
Collins said her own campaign video was called “faith.”
The senator also noted that she is the sole remaining Republican member of Congress from New England but said she expects that to change.
“Paul LePage is back,” Collins said, predicting the former governor will become Maine’s next congressman from the 2nd District.
Collins said Washington could use LePage’s business knowledge, common sense, and commitment to putting people over politics. She also called for Republicans to compete in Maine’s 1st District and praised the party’s slate of candidates across the state.
After the primary, Collins said Republicans must unite behind their nominee for governor.
“Maine simply cannot afford four more years of failed leadership in Augusta,” Collins said.
She pointed to sky-high electric rates, declining K-12 school performance, and high taxes as examples of the problems facing the state.
Collins closed by laying out why she remains a Republican, saying she believes in personal responsibility, the dignity of work, individual liberty, lower taxes, secure elections, and America’s role as “the greatest country on earth.”
She ended by looking ahead to the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4 and urging Republicans toward victory in November.
This is a defining moment in Maine politics. Is Maine going to be controlled by the ultra leftists moving forward, or are Republicans going to show a backbone and fight for the working men and women of Maine, our elderly on fixed incomes, our businesses, and our young people?! It is time to take the gloves off, roll up your sleeves, and take back our state. Maine should NOT have crippling property taxes, rampant fraud, electricity costs so high businesses must close because of it! And “New Mainers’ should NOT have special rights or special funding, enough of the FREE housing, transportation, meals, healthcare, and on and on….ENOUGH! Legislators should NOT be able to fund personal home surveillance equipment on the backs of the Maine Taxpayer….once it starts, when does it end? Maine politicians are now the biggest impediment to prosperity in the state!
She hates men.