Gov. Paul LePage is sounding more and more like he plans next year to challenge independent.Angus King’s bid for a second term in the U.S. Senate.

During a radio interview Thursday, the governor indicated that the only declared major party challenger — state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn — likely can’t win.

“I don’t see it in the cards for him,” LePage told friendly radio hosts during his weekly appearance on Portland’s WGAN.

LePage hasn’t taken any formal steps toward setting up a campaign to take on King, but he’s shifted sharply away in recent months from his springtime announcement that he wouldn’t run for the Senate seat.

The governor acknowledged on the Bangor-based WVOM radio last week that it is “very, very hard to knock off an incumbent,” which is why potentially competitive challengers are wary of taking on the assignment.

Nonetheless, LePage said he is “really starting to discuss this with my wife,” Ann.
LePage, who is barred from seeking a third term as governor, claimed recently that he’s getting ever more pressure to jump into the contest.

Asked by WGAN recently if he will enter the race after all, LePage answered, “Don’t know. I can’t say yes or no. I don’t know. I don’t have a crystal ball.”

What is clear is that the governor has been ramping up his criticism of King and Maine’s senior senator, Republican Susan Collins, who is flirting with the idea of a gubernatorial race to succeed LePage.

He called King “a spender” who left Maine in debt when he was governor and is now doing the same to the country. “When’s it going to stop?” LePage asked.

King declined this week to say anything about LePage or Brakey or their comments.

LePage continues to speak well of Brakey, 29, but isn’t saying much that would bolster the Auburn politician’s chances.

The governor called him “a fine young man,” but opined that it’s “a big leap” to think he can go from the state Senate to the U.S. Senate.

LePage said last month he hopes that Brakey’s campaign takes off, but he apparently isn’t seeing much sign that it is.

Brakey, though, said he is getting a lot of grassroots support from “conservatives, Republicans, libertarians and voters from every stripe” in what he admits is a long shot bid to knock out an incumbent senator.

If LePage is going to run, he will likely say so within the next month or so in order to give him time to raise money and gear up for the campaign.

scollins@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.