PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Maine’s congressional delegation split its praise of President Bush’s State of the Union address Wednesday night, calling his statements regarding Social Security and the war in Iraq both bold and polarizing.

Republicans repeatedly jumped to their feet, cheering and applauding during the address while Democrats scowled in their seats, some protesting aloud as the president outlined details of his agenda for change at home and abroad.

“We are in Iraq to achieve a result: A country that is democratic, representative of all its people, at peace with its neighbors, and able to defend itself,” the president said.

Maine’s congressional leaders echoed the president’s optimism for the future of Iraq and called on their colleagues to work together to achieve those ends.

“These are challenging times at home and around the world,” said Sen. Susan Collins. “We will have to work together in a bipartisan spirit and with our international partners if we are going to achieve progress and peace.”

Sen. Olympia Snowe added: “Democracy, not despotism, must determine Iraq’s future.”

Iraq and Afghanistan have both held recent elections.

Social Security reform proved to be the most divisive issue of the night, producing raucous boos during the address from some Democrats who feel the program is not headed for disaster.

Maine’s Democrat Rep. Tom Allen said the president hasn’t been straight with the American people and has exacerbated the program’s problems.

“Social Security isn’t bankrupt. Social Security isn’t exhausted,” Allen told the Associated Press. “It can be fixed with relatively modest changes.”

Fellow democratic Rep. Michael Michaud agreed.

“I strongly oppose privatizing Social Security. The fact of the matter is, Social Security works,” he said in a release.

Michaud said he planned to reintroduce a constitutional amendment to prevent any privatizing of the Social Security system.

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