A Mainer was in the national spotlight at a convention again Thursday night, as Charlie Summers, the GOP candidate in the 1st District U.S. House race, addressed the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Though Summers got only about two minutes of TV airtime, the Scarborough resident grabbed the opportunity to praise his wife, Ruth, who campaigned for him while he served in Iraq, and to plug the Republican nominee for president, Sen. John McCain.
Summers, a Navy Reserve officer, was called to active duty last August. He considered dropping out of the race to fill Rep. Tom Allen's seat, which will pit him against Democrat Chellie Pingree in November, but Summers' wife offered to campaign on his behalf.
"Without her, I would not be speaking to you tonight," said Summers, who returned from Iraq in May. "Ruth is a perfect example of the strong, capable, compassionate Republican women leading our party."
Summers, who had expected to fly back to Maine on Thursday, stayed an extra day after being invited to address the convention. He found out late Wednesday afternoon he would speak.
Allen, who is facing Sen. Susan Collins in November, spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week.
Summers said convention delegates were "absolutely pumped" by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's vice presidential acceptance speech Wednesday night.
"It really fired everyone up, and I think it's because she comes across as being a regular person," he said. "She is someone who has been on the outside of the party insiders. She has taken some of them on and I think that is wonderful."
Summers also put in a good word for McCain, whose military service is highly respected.
"John McCain personifies principled service to country -- a man that knows America can no longer afford the ways of the past and will lead us forward with a single purpose, doing what is right for our families and our country," Summers told the convention.
"I have been to Iraq and back, and I can tell you this: It's not a liberal versus conservative proposition. It's an American proposition. And John McCain is the American to make it happen."
Pingree's spokesman, Willy Ritch, said she would not be making any comments regarding Summers' speech. The Maine Democratic Party also did not comment.