“I have found these meetings to be constructive, forthright exchanges on the key issues facing our state and nation. Obviously there are some matters on which we’ve agreed, and others where we have differences. Ultimately, the input of my constituents has always been invaluable to me in doing my job as Senator.”-- Sen. Snowe on RLC mtg.

From Eric Dondero:

It is not known if the Senator arranged for the meeting or local libertarian Republicans. But the Lewiston Sun is reporting that Maine's longtime Senior Senator Olympia Snowe held a private meeting with representatives of the Republican Liberty Caucus.

From the Lewiston Sun-Journal, "Snowe meets with Republican Liberty Caucus to defend record," Feb. 25:

The Maine chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus on Sunday posted on its blog the details of a recent meeting with U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

The post says the meeting took place on “neutral ground,” at a hotel conference room in Augusta — a description that underscores the tension between Snowe, considered a moderate, and the right wing of the GOP.

The RLC is a national organization. It’s considered a libertarian group that is connected to the tea party. According to the post by Ken Lindell, chairman of Maine RLC, also invited were representatives from other conservative organizations including tea party activists, constitutional conservatives, libertarians and devotees of the John Birch Society, as well as representatives from the Maine Legislature and the Republican State Committee. The common thread, Lindell said, was that "all the participants represented factions of the Republican Party that were either critical of Senator Snowe’s moderate track record, and in some cases outright hostile to the senator."

The Maine chapter of the RLC last spring backed Gov. Paul LePage in the GOP primary.

The Senator is longtime friends with Governor LePage (who grew up in Lewiston), and also with Lewiston libertarian Republican activist and former legislator Stravos Mendros.

Ironically, Andrew Ian Dodge, Tea Party activist, an RLC member, and friend of this website, is the only declared candidate against her for the GOP nomination.

Editor - Photos of Gov. LePage and Stravos when he was much younger and dashing.