Combative Maine governor in three-way re-election race

Combative Maine governor in three-way re-election race
Martha T. Moore, 2:31 p.m. EDT June 8, 2014

GRAY, Maine — Conservative, combative Republican Gov. Paul LePage has a phrase for the three-way race that pits him against Eliot Cutler, an independent who almost beat him four years ago, and Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud, who would be the first openly gay person elected governor if he wins in November.

"This is what I call the 'hate season,' '' LePage said at a recent campaign event held in a dusty gravel pit here, where he put on a white hard hat to be endorsed by a contractors' trade association. "For the next few months it's going to be brutal out there.''

"Brutal" is also how critics describe LePage's record since 2010, when he became governor with 39% of the vote in a three-way race. LePage cut welfare rolls, vetoed Medicaid expansion, passed an income tax cut and then reduced municipal revenue sharing to pay for it — all the while calling legislators "idiots,'' state workers "corrupt,'' and telling the NAACP to "kiss my butt.''

"He's piggish and bullheaded and not really listening to what the people are saying,'' says Rebecca Kowaloff, 30, a doctor and Democratic voter in Portland.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/08/maine-governor-race-lepage/10035551/