In a typical presidential election year, there are dozens of delegates and staffers from Maine that attend the Republican National Convention. This year, the state’s delegation consists of just six people, and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is not among them.
On a conference call with reporters, Republican National Committeeman for Maine Josh Tardy was asked why Collins is not attending the slimmed-down conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I think Susan Collins wants to be judged based on what she has done as a United States Senator and her overall record of public service. I think that is what she wants her election to be decided upon,” she says.
Collins, who has never attended a national convention in a year when she was also on the ballot, was in Bangor meeting with constituents.
Tardy says while the convention is much smaller than in the past, it does not lack for enthusiasm. He says Maine Republicans are excited and have already knocked on half a million doors promoting GOP candidates up and down the ticket.
