Talk about a real kick in the nads for Eliot Cutler (I. ME):
https://bangordailynews.com/...
In an odd twist Monday, a national group that aims to temper the partisan divide in American politics, gave U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, its “problem solver seal of approval.”
The seal is not an endorsement of Michaud’s 2014 bid for the governor’s office in Maine but a reflection of his work in Congress, according to No Labels, the D.C.-based organization also supported by Michaud’s gubernatorial rival, independent Eliot Cutler.
Cutler also was one of the organization’s founding members.
“In the U.S. Congress, Mike Michaud has been working to usher in a new politics of problem solving. And we’re excited to see him take that attitude back to Maine in his race for governor,” No Labels co-founder Mark McKinnon said in a prepared statement.
McKinnon pointed out Michaud’s strong support for No Labels’ National Strategic Agenda, which is an effort to push lawmakers away from partisan politics and toward problem solving in Congress and at the state legislative level.
The agenda includes four specific goals including:
— Adding 25 million new jobs in the U.S. over the next 10 years.
— Securing Medicare and Social Security for another 75 years.
— Balancing the federal budget by 2030.
— Making America energy secure by 2035. - Bangor Daily News, 6/23/14
Speaking of labels, Cutler should really define himself on where he stands on this issue:
http://www.pressherald.com/...
Eliot Cutler, independent candidate for governor, has given money to a number of federal candidates over the years, which is not surprising given his personal wealth and his interest in politics and public policy.
According to filings with the Federal Election Commission going back 20 years, Cutler has given to at least three candidates who are pro-life, or were at the time of his contribution.
The first two were Randy Tate, a Republican who ran for Congress in Washington state in 1994, and Thomas Reynolds, a Republican congressman from New York from 1998-2008.
The third? That would be Democrat Mike Michaud. And that was in 2002, when Michaud first ran for Congress and was pro-life.
Michaud, of course, now says he is 100 percent pro-choice, but the Cutler campaign and others have criticized the Democrat for flip-flopping on the issue of abortion.
Michaud has acknowledged that he has cast votes in the past against choice but says he has evolved on the issue.
So, should Cutler’s support for pro-life candidates open him up to criticism on this issue, given that he has said he “unequivocally” supports a women’s right to choose?
“Eliot’s record of supporting and contributing to pro-life candidates speaks for itself,” Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant said. “His distortions of Congressman Michaud’s record are ringing hollow with voters, especially after NARAL and Planned Parenthood embraced Michaud with their endorsements.”
Asked whether he thought his contributions to pro-life candidates reflect an evolution on the abortion issue, Cutler said no. - Portland Press Herald, 6/23/14
Real piece of work, isn't he? It's no wonder Cutler is a distant third in the polls:
http://www.pressherald.com/...
The Democrat presently has a four-point margin over LePage, leading the governor 40 percent to 36 percent in a landline and cellphone survey of 527 likely voters between June 12 and 18. Cutler lags in third place, with 15 percent of respondents saying they’d vote for him if the election were held today. Another 7 percent said they were undecided. Michaud’s lead is within the 4.3 percent margin of error.
Michaud’s strength – and LePage’s weakness – is among female voters, a bloc that national Democrats hope to mobilize to counter the low turnouts that normally characterize midterm elections.
Michaud is also drawing support from respondents who voted for Cutler during the independent’s second-place finish in 2010. The latter finding suggests that Democrats who bailed on Libby Mitchell as her campaign cratered in the final weeks of the 2010 election are standing with Michaud – at least for now. - Portland Press Herald, 6/21/14
And Michaud was recently spotted a big even in Maine:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
A Democratic candidate who reluctantly made public his homosexuality last year found himself serving as the grand marshal of Maine's biggest gay pride parade and festival Saturday and urged activists to continue fighting to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.
Mike Michaud, who would become the nation's first openly gay person to be elected governor if he unseats Republican Paul LePage in November, said it would be powerful for the gay community to have a seat at the table in discussions with governors across the country on equality issues.
"Maine has come a long ways and our nation has come a long ways, but there's still a long way to go," he said in an interview before he marched alongside a white convertible down the roughly milelong route in downtown Portland.
Gay rights activists say the six-term congressman's victory would be a key milestone in their movement toward equality, inspire other gay leaders to pursue public office and send a positive message to the community's youth. - Huffington Post, 6/21/14
Michaud is rising and Cutler is flailing. People realize now that voting for Cutler was a mistake and they're ready to undo the damage Cutler has done by helping throw the race to LePage. Lets make sure our base get out and votes by getting involved and donating to Michaud's campaign:
http://www.michaud2014.com/