Ron Paul supporter Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt of Dresden recently sent out a letter criticizing Sen. John McCain and urging Maine Republicans not to support his bid for the presidency.

Iserbyt, a delegate to the state convention that starts Friday, said she wants to stop what she sees as a Republican shift to the left. In the letter, she describes McCain as a “maniacal neoconservative war monger.”

She was less pointed in an interview.

“I don’t understand the good Republicans who don’t seem to understand you don’t just go along with a candidate because he’s selected by the people running the world,” she said in a phone interview.

Iserbyt, a former official in the Reagan administration’s Department of Education, said the letter has the support of others, but she volunteered to put her name on it because she can handle criticism.

“There are many people in Maine who feel John McCain doesn’t represent what we believe in,” she said.

In particular, she mentioned McCain’s stand on the war in Iraq and his comment that the U.S. might need to have a presence there for up to 100 years.

She said she’s worried Ron Paul supporters will be marginalized at the convention.

“We are a threat to the agenda supported by both parties,” she said. “We have a one party system now.”

The Colby College Republicans are hosting conservative author Gregg Jackson for a lecture tonight called “Can America Survive: How the Left’s Assault on Traditional Values is Destroying America.”

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. in room 14 of Miller Library.

Jackson, a 1991 graduate of Colby, is the author of the 2006 book “Conservative Comebacks to Liberal Lies.”

For $30, registered Republicans can enjoy dinner and a speech by former presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Friday night.

Romney is the major speaker at this weekend's state Republican Convention at the Augusta Civic Center. The Presidential Banquet will start at 7:30 p.m.

The convention — two days of speeches, delegate selection and platform debate — will draw about 2,400 people.

But for those who just want to hear Romney, tickets are available by calling party headquarters at 622-6247.

When Republicans meet in Augusta next weekend for their convention, they will consider their party platform.

Party veterans say there could be some pretty interesting conversations about the platform at the convention, which is set for May 2 and 3 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Party members have until May 2 to submit proposed amendments. For more on that, go to the party Web site.

Here’s the platform as it appears on the party Web site:

The Maine Council of Senior Citizens-Alliance for Retired Americans will host a forum May 6 for all candidates running for the 1st Congressional District seat.

The forum will take place at the John Marvin Tower/Chateau Cushnoc Elderly Housing complex on Townsend Street in Augusta. It begins at 6 p.m.

Candidates will have up to ten minutes each to make a statement and talk about why they are running for Congress. Questions will follow.

All candidates are expected to attend, according to the council.

On the June 10 ballot, Republicans will choose between Charlie Summers of Scarborough and Dean Scontras of Eliot.

Here’s the Democratic field: Michael Brennan of Portland; Adam Cote of Portland; Mark Lawrence of South Berwick; Steve Meister of Winthrop; Chellie Pingree of North Haven and Ethan Strimling of Portland.

Dems to open Lewiston office

The coordinated campaign for the Maine Democratic Party will celebrate the opening of a Lewiston office on Saturday.

The coordinated team of 24 people statewide will share digs with staff for U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud at 213 Lisbon Street. The grand opening is set for 10 a.m.

Michaud and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen are expected to attend the event.

Collins announces bipartisan team

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, recently announced that she’s got a longtime Republican and a Democrat working to help her get reelected.

Merton Henry, described as the “dean of the Maine GOP” will serve as co-chairman. He’ll work alongside Scott Hutchinson, a Democrat, Gardiner native, and president of Key Bank.

Other team members include Sam Ladd, president and CEO of Maine Bank and Trust; Leo Loiselle, a managing partner at the Bangor-based accounting firm of Loiselle, Goodwin and Hinds; and Matt Manahan, a partner at Pierce Atwood in Portland.

First Congressional District candidate Mark Lawrence, a Democrat, took part in the Human Rights Torch Relay in Portland on Saturday, according to his campaign.

Lawrence, who is the York County District Attorney, said he wanted to call attention to human rights abuses in China.

“Human rights needs to be a strong focus of the United States in our foreign policy,” he said. “This is necessary both for global justice and our national security.”

Lawrence is one of six Democrats running for the party nomination on June 10. The others are: Adam Cote of Portland, Michael Brennan of Portland, Ethan Strimling of Portland, Chellie Pingree of North Haven and Steve Meister of Winthrop.

Two Republicans — Charlie Summers of Scarborough and Dean Scontras of Eliot — will face off for the GOP nomination.

Phoenix readers name Strimling “Best Politician”

State Sen. Ethan Strimling, who is seeking the 1st Congressional District Democratic nomination, was voted “Best Politician” by readers of the Portland Phoenix, according to the Strimling campaign.

The vote was part of the newspaper’s annual reader poll.

“I don’t generally pay a lot of attention to polls, but when it’s the readers of the Phoenix, it really means something,” Strimling said in a statement.

Second Congressional District Rep. Mike Michaud, a Democrat, sent out a press release Thursday with his thoughts on Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Washington.

Michaud, a former mill worker and Maine Senate President, will face Republican John Frary of Farmington in the November election.

Here’s Michaud’s statement in full:

“It was a great honor to attend the ceremony at the White House yesterday honoring Pope Benedict XVI and the Mass at Nationals Park today. Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic visit to the United States is a historic moment. It has been twenty-nine years since the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican Chief of State has visited the White House, and it is the first visit by Pope Benedict to the United States.

“As a lifelong Catholic, it was a tremendous honor to hear his message of hope and renewal. I know millions of people around the world heard his message and his call to work together on the challenges that we face as citizens of the world.

“At Nationals Park today, people of all ages, races, and religions attended the ceremony to hear his message of peace and justice. People were standing and cheering at his arrival, waving flags and souvenirs that they had purchased. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and a high point of my life as a Catholic.

“Faith has been the foundation of my family. It is a constant reminder of the importance of sacrifice and the principles of justice and integrity. Our faith allows us to stay strong and face the challenges ahead.

“The Pope’s message was a clear call to Americans of all faiths and walks of life to push for a more just and more peaceful society. The Catholic Church has been at the forefront of many struggles for social change and world peace. It is a great honor to have His Holiness in the United States, and I want to thank him for making this trip.”

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Ledue will be in Augusta Thursday evening to talk to members of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee.

Ledue is crisscrossing the state to meet voters in advance of the June 10 primary, where he’ll face U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a fellow Democrat.

Both are running for the seat currently held by Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican.

Ledue, of Springvale, describes himself as an educator and administrator. He’s been invited to speak after the regular business meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at Augusta City Hall, and is open to all Democrats and independents.

The Maine Republican Party released a series of statistics Tuesday that they believe show a big lead for Sen. Susan Collins in the race against U.S. Rep. Tom Allen.

The party says financial reports show that the Collins campaign has $1.8 million more cash-on-hand than the Allen campaign.

And they list several poll results:

Rasmussen poll: (Released 4/8/08)
Collins: 54%, Allen: 38%

McLaughlin poll: (Released 3/28/08)
Collins: 54%, Allen: 31%

Survey USA poll (Released 11/05/2007)
Collins: 55%, Allen: 38%

Critical Insights poll (Released November 2007)
Collins: 57%, Allen: 32%

Research 2000/DailyKos (Released October 2007)
Collins: 56%, Allen: 33%

Allen has a birthday

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen will turn 63 on Wednesday, according to his campaign.

In what could be the shortest press release ever sent by a campaign, the Allen camp kept the announcement of his birthday to two short sentences. The first announces his birthday.

Here’s the second: “A seventh generation Mainer born in 1945, Allen will be 63 years young.”

Kennebec County Dems host candidates night

Kennebec County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Rita Moran announced today that there will be a candidates night at Augusta City Hall on May 15.

The Democrats are inviting state House and Senate candidates, along with those seeking county commissioner seats. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.

New PR gal hired

The Maine Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign said that Rebecca Pollard, a 1999 graduate of Colby College, has been named communications coordinator.

A native of Bucksport, Pollard has experience working as a press secretary for Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. She’s also holds a master’s degree in education policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

If you’ve ever wanted a look inside the Statehouse that’s not from a purely partisan point of view — or written by a journalist — Penobscot Nation Rep. Donna Loring dishes it up in a new book.

House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport, said this week that those who oppose efforts to require people to prove they are residents before they can get a driver’s license are “wildly outside the mainstream.”

The Legislature’s Transportation Committee is scheduled to vote Friday on Gov. John Baldacci’s Real ID bill that he submitted to comply with federal regulations. A separate bill addressing the issue of requiring people to be Maine residents before they can get a license is making its way through the legislative process.

The Maine Civil Liberties Union and others have opposed the governor’s Real ID bill.

“The people in these civil rights groups seem to think it’s fine to hand out Maine licenses to people from anywhere on the planet, even if they don’t live in Maine,” Tardy said in a statement. “It’s frankly unbelievable to me that they think we should issue this crucial ID document to people who are here illegally.”

Tardy, an attorney, is serving his sixth year in the House.

Republicans and Democrats will gather in Augusta next month for their conventions, and planning is well under way in both party offices.

Neither group will say who — or if — they’ve booked anyone to come speak.

In 2006, Democrats got Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin to speak, but weren’t able to announce it until two weeks before the convention, said Arden Manning, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party.

“It tends to be last minute,” he said.

Republicans will gather at the Augusta Civic Center May 2 and 3, and Democrats come later in the month on May 30 and 31.

If you could choose, who would you like to see?

For Republicans, how about Karl Rove? Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is probably busy, but I bet she’d be interesting.

For Democrats, wouldn’t it be fun to hear House Speaker Nancy Pelosi? Who else?

The candidates running for the 1st Congressional District are scheduled to be in Augusta Monday night for an event sponsored by the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee.

The focus of the forum is veterans issues, although candidates will have an opportunity to make some opening remarks. The event starts at 7 p.m. and will be held in room 209 of the Augusta Armory on Western Avenue.

Democrats running for the seat: Mike Brennan of Portland, Adam Cote of Portland, Mark Lawrence of South Berwick, Stephen Meister of Winthrop, Chellie Pingree of North Haven and Ethan Strimling of Portland.

Republicans running are Dean Scontras of Eliot and Charlie Summers of Scarborough.

Dean Scontras, one of two Republicans running for the 1st Congressional District, recently announced the formation of a Scontras for Congress Faith and Values Coalition, according to his campaign.

The coalition includes more than 25 religious and community leaders who are supporting Scontras because of his “strong belief in traditional conservative cultural values.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, is inviting the public to a “Conversation for Change and Community Supper” in Waterville on Monday.

The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will be held in the library of the Alfond Youth Center Boys and Girls Club/YMCA at 126 North St.

In a statement from his campaign, Allen talks about the need to “change the direction of Maine and this country” by bringing troops home from Iraq, giving tax breaks to the middle class, and addressing climate change.