LEWISTON – First daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush, 22, rallied Bates College Republicans Wednesday urging students to help re-elect their father.

Wearing fitted jeans and blouses, both daughters spoke to about 125 college students in Skelton Lounge. Holding Bush-Cheney signs, the audience was happy and excited to see them. Outside Bates, a college with mostly a liberal student population, more than 100 students protested and complained they were excluded.

Jenna and Barbara Bush talked about their father and family, the election, and how their father is “spreading freedom around the world.” Neither mentioned the Iraq war.

The twins are traveling to colleges campaigning “because we really believe it’s important he’s re-elected,” Jenna said. “People tell me I’m a lot like him and my grandmother, Barbara Bush: shy, quiet, afraid to speak my mind,” she joked as the audience laughed. Her grandmother is called “the enforcer,” she said.

Other family members, their mother and cousin, are also campaigning. Their grandfather, former President Bush, occasionally gives a speech or two, “but mainly he spends his time yelling at the television when he sees unfair stories on the news,” Jenna joked. “We keep telling him they can’t hear what he’s saying.”

She praised her father for working to make the economy stronger and improving education. Jenna described the president as someone who is down to earth, has a good sense of humor and is disciplined. He ran a marathon at 45, reads the Bible every day, and has given up his favorite food, cheesecake. During the last 10 years when they brought friends home, “he made everyone feel welcome and comfortable, except for the occasional boyfriends,” she mused.

Jenna said she’s proud that her father helped liberate Afghanistan, and said the election comes at a critical time. She urged students “to help him continue to be a great president for four more years.”

At that, the audience chanted, “Four more years.”

Barbara spoke next. “Hey guys!” she said, adding that her dad is “obviously awesome!”

In this election young people care about good job opportunities, making sure no one is left behind in America, and “about spreading freedom around the world. A world with more freedom is a world that’s more peaceful,” Barbara said

The Bush-Cheney campaign operates the Students for Bush, which has 1,200 students signed on in Maine, including 176 students at Bates, she said, urging students to get involved.

“We just finished college and know students are very busy: A little bit of school work and a lot of fun,” Barbara said. But there’s much energy in the campaign, adding the election will be close. “So, if all of y’all go and vote, and if you can all recruit one or more friends to come with you, it will make a huge difference on Election Day.”

At one point, Jenna expressed surprise and delight to see the twins’ third-grade music teacher, Sue Johnson, in the audience. Johnson and her husband live in Winthrop and Dallas. After hearing “my girls” would be at Bates, Johnson decided to attend.

After speaking, the twins shook hands and posed for pictures. Questions were not taken.

Bowdoin College student Dan Schuberth was impressed by Jenna and Barbara. “They’re wonderful,” said Schuberth, state chairman of the Maine College Republicans. “I had an opportunity to meet their dad at the Republican National Convention. They’re just spitting images of their parents.” Their campaign message “and how positive it is reminds me of George and Laura Bush,” he said.