Rep. Mike Michaud, Democratic candidate for Maine governor
Hours after Maine independent Eliot Cutler announced that while he wasn't abandoning his campaign for governor, his supporters should "vote their conscience," the state's independent senator, Angus King, switched his endorsement from Cutler to Democrat Mike Michaud:
“But, like Eliot, I too am a realist. After many months considering the issues and getting to know the candidates, it is clear that the voters of Maine are not prepared to elect Eliot in 2014,” King said in a written statement. “The good news is that we still have a chance to elect a governor who will represent the majority of Maine people: my friend and colleague, Mike Michaud. And today, I’d like to offer him my support.”
He added, “This was not an easy decision, but I think the circumstances require that those of us who have supported Eliot look realistically at the options before us at this critical moment in Maine history,” King said.
And one of the options is current Gov. Paul LePage, and that is clearly an unacceptable option. LePage and Michaud are tied in recent polls, with Cutler trailing badly and his supporters
more likely to switch their allegiance to Michaud than to LePage. The Republican Governors Association even tried to take advantage of the situation with an ad boosting Cutler—an ad that cited King's now-revoked endorsement.
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Maine voters have a choice between a far-right bully in LePage and a former mill worker who would be America's first openly LGBT governor. On style and substance, the choice couldn't be more clear.