AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Republican Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the country needs Donald Trump “to show some authoritarian power in our country” because Democratic President Barack Obama has acted like “an autocrat” during his tenure as president.
LePage, a Republican like Trump, made the comments during an appearance on WVOM-FM on Tuesday. The comments follow the release last week of a videotape showing Trump using predatory language regarding women.
LePage also addressed the videotape during the radio appearance. Trump is heard on the 2005 video bragging about how his fame allowed him to “do anything” to women.
LePage said “it’s one thing to be in a locker room and talk, it’s another thing to be in the White House and do it.” He then went on to compare Trump’s comments to former President Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky.
The Maine governor qualified by saying Trump is “not the ideal guy I’d want my daughter going after.”
LePage endorsed Trump months ago and stumped for him at the state’s caucus. His daughter, Lauren, works for Trump’s campaign.
The governor also criticized Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Collins has spoken out against Trump’s behavior during the presidential campaign.
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