Dear Friends,

As veterans, we understand the commitment and courage it takes to go to war for your country. I’m sure you know that Charlie is currently serving in Iraq as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. Though running for Congress at home, he has answered his country’s call to duty and is bravely fighting for the freedom of the Iraqi people and the safety and security of Americans here and abroad. This is the kind of person we want in Congress!

Charlie has a strong record of fighting for his convictions. Whether in the sands of Iraq or the corridors of the Maine State Senate, he always fights the tough fights rather than coasting along the politically expedient path. With Congressional approval ratings at an all time low, we must send a person of character and a person of action to Washington. Charlie is just such a person.

When national opinion was in favor of bringing troops home from Iraq, and Democrats in Congress were suggesting we give up on the Iraqi people and the American mission, Charlie was a constant advocate of sending more troops. Time has shown us Charlie was right, the troop surge is working, and the War in Iraq is winnable.

Not only was Charlie right about the surge, he is a part of the surge. Through his Iraq service he is standing up for, and taking part in, the strategy he advocated. His service demonstrates in the clearest terms that he is a man of action and not just words.

We are proud to know Charlie, and are proud to support his candidacy for Congress. With Representative Tom Allen stepping down this term, Charlie can and will be our next Congressman. Charlie is electable in Southern Maine, and has proven it multiple times. He was the first and only Republican ever to be elected and re-elected to the Maine Senate from the Scarborough, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Dayton district. When he ran against Tom Allen in 2004, he received the highest vote total of any Republican to run against Allen. With the 1st District seat open in 2008, it is quite literally anybody’s race. We plan to make it Charlie’s seat.

Sending Charlie to Congress will not only be a service to Maine, but a service to our nation. Charlie is an honorable Republican who will fight for American values, and will not be duped by Washington insiders.

The Democrats in Congress and in Maine have repeatedly been on the wrong side of national security issues, both at home and abroad.

In addition to demands that we pull out of Iraq with no regard for the consequences, they have called for drivers’ licenses to be given to illegal immigrants, and at the same time failed to effectively secure our borders. Charlie knows that we must secure our borders before all else, and he recognizes the threat to our national security posed by illegal immigration.

By sending Charlie to Washington we are not only improving Maine, we are reforming Congress.

Charlie believes in fiscal restraint and small government. Serving as New England Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, as State Director for Senator Olympia Snowe, and as a member of the Maine State Senate, he repeatedly fought for tax cuts for individuals and against unnecessary government regulation of small businesses. Charlie has been a small business owner himself, and understands firsthand the challenges that they face. He knows that government must get out of the way of America’s entrepreneurs so they can continue doing what they do best - make our Nation’s economy the envy of the world! He believes that "we the people" - not big government - are in the best position to assess our individual needs, and to spend our money accordingly.

In comparison, the Democratic Congress is spending more money than ever on wasteful pork-barrel projects, and is pushing a plan through Congress that will grossly increase taxes on the average American.

We need Charlie to bring a new kind of leadership, and a new idea of government to Washington. Charlie has proven he is a true selfless public servant and patriot. He is the man we want and deserve to represent our interests in Congress.

In our own military service, we have seen our share of brave and patriotic men and women. We are telling you now that Charlie stacks up with the best of them. We are lucky to have a man like Charlie in Maine’s 1st District, and he would be the highest asset as our representative in Congress.

Thank you in advance for supporting Charlie in his candidacy to become the next Congressman from Maine’s First District.

Sincerely,