Maine voters appear to have mixed feelings about Gov. Baldacci.

In a Critical Insights poll conducted in October, only 38 percent of those asked said that the governor deserves to be re-elected. Forty-five percent said he doesn’t deserve re-election, and 16 percent said they didn’t know. But on Tuesday, state voters endorsed several important – and controversial – pieces of his agenda.

Baldacci was one of the biggest champions of the state’s anti-discrimination law, which was tested by a people’s veto attempt. The law, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support, added sexual orientation to the state’s Human Rights Act, forbidding discrimination against homosexuals.

Anti-discrimination measures have been rejected by Maine voters before. Nonetheless, Baldacci put his political clout behind the law. Voters validated the political risk he took, and the people’s veto was turned back handily with 55 percent of voters saying they wanted to keep the law.

Whether the state should issue bonds for crucial infrastructure investments has tied the Legislature into knots for the past two years. After initially proposing a bonds package worth nearly $200 million, the Legislature and governor settled on a plan that would pump $83 million into roads, conservation, environmental improvements, job creation and research and development, and higher education.

As of Tuesday, four of five bonds had won easily. The fifth, a bond worth $9 million for higher education, was struggling. No votes were leading yes votes by about 4,000 Wednesday with 94 percent of precincts reporting.

Question 7, which also passed the Legislature with significant bipartisan support, is part of the tax reform package that included L.D. 1 and changes to the state’s property tax rebate program. The question amends the state constitution so working waterfront property can be taxed at current use instead of highest value.

Likewise, a poll from Strategic Marketing Services, conducted during the summer, showed that 69 percent of respondents support the governor’s Dirigo health program despite constant and sharp attacks from Republicans.

It’s risky business to use an election just a couple of days old to make predictions about one more than a year away, but Tuesday’s results suggest the Baldacci needs to do a better job of connecting his popular accomplishments to his tenure as governor in the minds of voters.

Much can happen in the next year, but so far majority support for the governor’s policy initiatives isn’t translating into support for the man himself.