Transcript of remarks from Summers

Below is a transcript of remarks made by former state Senator and 1st Congressional District candidate Charlie Summers (R-Scarborough) at the Republican National Convention Thursday evening, as prepared for delivery.

 My name is Charlie Summers, and last year I decided to run for Congress in Maine's First Congressional District.

After I started running, I was called to active duty to serve in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Dropping out of the race appeared to be the only option, but then my wife, Ruth - a Naval officer herself - offered to campaign on my behalf.

And, that's exactly what she did for the next 9 months until I returned just three weeks before the primary - Without her, I would not be speaking to you tonight.

Ruth is a perfect example of the strong, capable, compassionate Republican women leading our party. And she also reflects the values of service we both learned as children of service veterans.

John McCain also personifies principled Service to Country. A man who knows America can no longer afford the ways of the past and who will lead us forward with a single purpose - doing what is right for our families and our country.

I have been to Iraq and back, and I can tell you this --it's not a liberal vs. conservative proposition.

It's an AMERICAN PROPOSITION.

And John McCain is THE AMERICAN to make it happen.