Sen. Angus King on Wednesday swung his support behind Rep. Michael Michaud’s campaign to unseat Gov. Paul LePage in Maine’s gubernatorial race, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Mr. LePage is defending his seat from Mr. Michaud and Eliot Cutler, an independent.
Mr. King, also an independent, endorsed Mr. Cutler earlier in the campaign, but the Press Herald reported Wednesday that he changed gears after Mr. Cutler made it clear to his supporters that he is a long shot to win the race.
Mr. Cutler urged his supporters to “vote their conscience.”
“Like Eliot, I too am a realist,” Mr. King said in a written statement. “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. 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.”
Mr. LePage has been viewed as one of the most endangered governors of the 2014 election cycle, but the tea party favorite hasn’t gone down without a fight.
The latest Real Clear Politics average of polls shows him with a 39.4 percent to 38.8 percent lead over Mr. Michaud. Mr. Cutler, meanwhile, received 13.6 percent.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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