enlarge The Associated Press

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addresses the Maine Republican state convention Friday in Augusta.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

• U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins will speak.
• Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist, will speak.
• Consideration of party platform.
• Voting for delegates to the national convention.

AUGUSTA — Mitt Romney urged Maine Republicans to rally around John McCain as the GOP presidential nominee Friday in a speech emphasizing issues that bring party members together and allow them to draw distinctions from Democrats.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, won more than twice as many delegates as McCain at the Maine Republican caucuses on Feb. 10. During the primaries, the two candidates tangled on issues including the economy and illegal immigration.

But Romney's keynote speech at the Maine Republican convention was a direct call for unity.

"This isn't a time to be teaching the party a lesson," he told delegates at the Augusta Civic Center. Party members gave Romney a standing ovation.

Anne Dudley, 39, of Fairfield, said she supported Romney's candidacy but believes the party should now coalesce behind McCain.

"It's better to stand together than to divide and lose," she said, adding, "Would I have liked a more conservative representative of our party? Yes."

Miriam Conners, 54, of Topsham, made a similar assessment. "Panning the horizon of who I have to vote for, McCain makes the most sense for me today, since we don't have Mitt," she said.

Romney's speech included numerous shots at Democrats. He said that Barack Obama has been trying to convince people not to vote for Hillary Clinton, and vice versa.

"I agree with both of them," Romney joked, drawing laughs and applause from the audience.

Romney talked mainly about issues that largely bring Republicans together, including national security and taxes. He avoided subjects that divide Maine Republicans, including illegal immigration and abortion.

It was a far cry from the heated tone of the Republican presidential race earlier this year, when Romney and McCain clashed over illegal immigration, and Romney questioned McCain's experience on economic issues.

In remarks to reporters before Friday's speech, Romney downplayed his differences with McCain.

"You know, I think if you go back and you look at our debates and our interactions, you'll find that we were always respectful to one another," Romney said. "We had differing views on a number of issues, and I continue to have differing views from Sen. McCain on certain issues."

"But on the main issues of our time -- the threat of radical jihad, the need to rebuild our economy, the need to become energy-independent, the importance of the culture of our society, to strengthen our homes and education and health care, he and I see eye to eye on these features," Romney said.

Romney also downplayed the possibility that he will be McCain's choice as vice-presidential running mate.

"I don't think that's very likely," he told reporters. "I think Sen. McCain has a number of people from whom he could choose. And I'm here to support his campaign, not to worry about the number two position."

Rebecca Pollard, spokeswoman for the Maine Democratic Party, responded to Romney's speech by linking this year's crop of Republican candidates with the unpopular Bush administration.

"Maine voters are by far ready for a stark change. They're ready for leaders who are not going to give billions in tax breaks to the oil companies while they suffer at the pump," Pollard said.

Staff Writer Kevin Wack can be contacted at 207-791-6365 or:

kwack@pressherald.com