LEWISTON – Campaigning for Barack Obama at Bates College on Friday, U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy got the crowd going when he announced he brought good news.

“One year from today George Bush will not be president.”

The standing-room-only crowd at Bates College chapel jumped to their feet. It was one of several times their cheering was louder than the Democratic senator from Massachusetts.

During his 30-minute speech, Kennedy railed against the war in Iraq, about the country’s lack of health care. He has complained that he has heard many times Senate Republicans insist the country cannot afford a comprehensive health care for citizens “because it’s socialism. Then they get free health care in the bowels of the U.S. Senate … and you the taxpayers are paying for it.”

More applause.

U.S. Sen. Obama, D-Illinois, has a plan that will finally bring solutions to the broken health care system, Kennedy said. “He will make that the first order of business.”

On Sunday, when Maine Democrats go to local caucuses to pick the party’s presidential nominee, they have an important decision, Kennedy said. Because Super Tuesday produced a race that’s too close to call, “the eyes of the country are going to be on Maine, and what decision Maine is going to make Sunday afternoon.”

Kennedy urged voters to pick Obama, saying every vote matters, and their vote will influence the direction of the country.

Looking at the choice between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, Kennedy said the two candidates’ positions are not that different. What is different, Kennedy said, is that Obama is the one who can unite, inspire and win in November.

Kennedy said he knew Obama was the candidate since that January night when Obama gave a “tremendously inspirational” speech after winning Iowa. That ability to inspire is critical to getting Americans involved again, especially the younger generation, Kennedy said. Young adults have been turned off because of “politics of fear, politics of division, politics of special interest.”

The country needs its youth, Kennedy said, crediting previous younger generations for helping to move the Civil Rights movement and bring the war in Vietnam to an end.

If Obama gains the Democratic nomination, he will lead and unite. “We are going to find America is going to come together again,” Kennedy said.

Obama has the experience and qualifications, he said. Recently some of the country’s greatest historians at the Kennedy Library were deciding who were the nation’s greatest presidents.

Their criteria was a president who had a sense of vision in the country and overseas, someone who was able to inspire, who had the courage to ask citizens to get involved, and who had good judgment. That describes Obama, Kennedy said.

While Hillary Clinton voted to authorize military involvement in Iraq, Obama was opposed, calling it the wrong decision. Obama was right, Kennedy said. “It is time we end this war,” he said to another standing ovation.

Kennedy said he was one of eight senators who voted against going into Iraq, that senators heard from military generals who warned if America troops went in, “it’ll look like the last five minutes of Private Ryan.”

Almost shouting, Kennedy said these are the kind of issues that face the nation.

When Obama raises his hand in January as president, “it is going to mean change,” Kennedy said. “This is the time. This is the candidate. …We’re here to ask for your help. Will you give us your help?”

The crowd answered with whistles, cheers, applause.

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