AUGUSTA – U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe was tired of the rumors that she would not seek re-election in 2006, so at the state GOP convention this weekend her booth on the floor featured “Snowe 2006” signs and her staff handed out campaign stickers.

“I have heard [the rumors], and I don’t understand why,” Snowe said in an interview. “They are not coming from me or my people. That’s precisely why we decided to make the point with the 2006 signs here this weekend.”

While she didn’t know where they originated, Snowe acknowledged the rumors were widespread. She said even though she does not like the length of campaigns and is not making a formal re-election announcement just yet, she felt it important to make it clear to fellow Republicans she plans to run again.

“I have said that the day I lose my enthusiasm or the energy that I think it requires, then I would obviously re-evaluate,” she said. “But that is not the case, and I am looking forward to the challenge and very much plan on being a candidate.”

While the election is not until November 2006, some of the gossip about Snowe not running seems to have been fueled by the departure last year of some of her long time staff, including communications director Dave Lackey. Some rumors had her tired of the political battles, both with Democrats and within the Republican Party.

Snowe is in her second 6-year term in the U.S. Senate and served 16 years in the U.S. House before that. She said that while the long campaigns and political battles are tiring, she mostly enjoys the fray.

Former GOP Rep. Dave Emery said Snowe was smart to have the campaign literature printed and clearly indicate that she intends to run for re-election because the rumors were pervasive and persistent.