PORTLAND – Mike Michaud, the Democrat hoping to be Maine’s next governor, grabbed some big-name support Tuesday with the announcement that former President Bill Clinton would headline an event for the 2nd District Congressman next week.

Clinton is set to speak on Michaud’s behalf during a rally at Portland’s Ocean Gateway Pier on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Clinton will later host a fund-raising event for Michaud, according a release issued by Michaud’s campaign staff today.

Michaud is hoping to unseat Maine’s incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Also running in the race is Eliot Cutler, an independent from Cape Elizabeth.

Clinton, a two-term president and also a former governor of Arkansas, has made appearances for candidates in Maine before. In 2010 he came twice on behalf of state Sen. Libby Mitchell’s unsuccessful bid for the governor’s office.  He was also in Maine in 2008 stumping for President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign.

Clinton’s visit comes at a time when most polls show Michaud in a virtual dead heat with LePage. Cutler, who finished a close second to LePage in 2010, trails Michaud and LePage by wide margins in public polling.

LePage has benefited from two campaign visits by high-profile Republican Gov. Chris Christie, from New Jersey, already this summer, as the race has ramped up in intensity.

Christie is seen as a potential GOP presidential nominee in 2016, while Clinton’s wife, former U.S. Sen. and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, is considered a possible Democratic White House candidate.

LePage campaign spokesman Alex Willette said Michaud’s campaign — like Mitchell’s four years ago — requires a boost from a popular national figure because the Democratic candidate is failing to inspire or win over Maine voters.

“Congressman Michaud’s career as a go-along to get-along politician requires presidential star power to get the attention of the Maine people, unlike Gov. LePage, who has a proven record of reforming government and getting Mainers back to work,” said Willette in a written statement.

Cutler last week received the endorsement of independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, the popular former Maine governor. In a written statement Tuesday, Cutler campaign spokeswoman Crystal Canney touted the King endorsement while downplaying the importance of political endorsements.

“Clinton campaigned in Maine twice in 2010 for Libby Mitchell with little impact; she finished third,” Canney wrote. “Eliot is not relying on out-of-state organizations or politicians. His campaign is proud to have the endorsement of Sen. Angus King, who was the most successful Maine governor in the last 40 years.”

But there’s no question Clinton’s visit is exciting some voters. By noon Tuesday, roughly three hours after the news of Clinton’s visit was first announced, the Michaud campaign said the former president’s appearance was booked to capacity, with more than 750 online RSVPs.

“I’ve always admired President Clinton for his ability to work across the aisle to get things done, which is something we’ve been missing here in Maine under Gov. LePage,” Michaud said in a written statement. “Based on the reaction our invitation has received, it’s clear voters in Maine are extremely excited about this race and ready for a change.”

 Bangor Daily News staff writers Seth Koenig and Christopher Cousins contributed to this report.

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