Tuesday’s primary kicked out crystal clear gubernatorial choices for voters in November. There will be no middle ground for these candidates on the issues, social or economic, as we look left or right for governor.

John Baldacci of Bangor, the Democratic incumbent – in a speech delivered at the state party convention in June – is asking voters to believe in him and to believe in his record.

Chandler Woodcock of Farmington, the folksy conservative who campaigned on patriotism and fiscal responsibility, is asking voters to support his mission to govern a state that lives within its means.

While there are others in this race, including Green Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth, and independents David Jones of Falmouth, John Michael of Auburn and Phillip Napier of Windham, the real foot race for the Blaine House is between Democrat Baldacci and Republican Woodcock. Voters will be going to the polls in November to choose between two candidates who share almost nothing in common except their home state.

Baldacci calls Woodcock’s party the party of “delay, do little and do nothing.”

Woodcock calls Baldacci’s party one of overpromise and underdelivery.

Woodcock is intensely critical of the Baldacci administration’s spending and social policies.

Baldacci is intensely critical of the Republican party’s platform at the state and federal levels.

Baldacci does not support the Taxpayer Bill of Rights on November’s ballot.

Woodcock supports TABOR in earnest.

Woodcock does not support what he calls special rights for homosexuals.

Baldacci championed Maine’s law to guarantee what he called equal rights for gays.

Baldacci stands square in the middle of the Democratic Party line.

Woodcock floats on the more conservative wing of the Republican Party.

Woodcock did not dominate his GOP opponents in the primary, earning about 40 percent of the vote. Together, Peter Mills and David Emery – considered more liberal Republicans – earned the remaining votes.

Baldacci was dominant over his opponent Chris Miller, but it was no landslide. In Auburn, Miller earned 33 percent of the vote. In Lewiston, it was 35 percent. In other Androscoggin County towns, Miller earned about 43 percent of the vote. In Franklin and Oxford counties, Miller managed between 30 and 37 percent of the vote.

Baldacci’s showing in the primary was unimpressive for a sitting governor.

Woodcock’s campaign strategy to peak just before the primary was impressive.

Woodcock and Baldacci are different men, with different philosophies and different messages.

We expect those differences to be accentuated as we move toward Election Day, and we expect that these two men will each make our choice for governor – based on our own personal views – easy to make.