Gephardt, Evans help boost state candidates

U.S. House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt was in Maine on Sunday to campaign with congressional candidate Michael Michaud, and Commerce Secretary Don Evans is to arrive in the state today to help Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Cianchette.

National political figures are continuing to head to Maine to campaign for candidates in the state’s hotly contested gubernatorial and 2nd District congressional contests.

With President Bush visiting Kennebunkport, U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia attended a fund-raiser in the same town on Sunday afternoon for John Baldacci, the Democratic nominee for governor.

Baldacci is vacating the 2nd District congressional seat he has held for four terms, setting the stage for a battle that will help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November.

Gephardt, the Missouri Democrat who is trying to recapture his party’s control of the gavel, attended a news conference in Auburn and a “working families rally” in Lewiston, Maine’s second-largest city, with Michaud on Sunday.

Gephardt talked about the impact of trade policies on Maine workers and businesses, the same topic to be discussed Monday when Evans addresses a “trade education town hall” in Gorham.

A group of anti-war protesters rallied at Gephart’s appearance, protesting U.S. policy toward Iraq.

Gephart said the Maine congressional race will help determine which party has control of Congress after next month’s elections.

“To hold this seat is very important,” he said.

Before Evans’ news conference, the former campaign chairman for Bush will attend a fund-raising luncheon in Portland for Peter Cianchette. Evans believes the United States needs to expand free trade agreements in the Americas and around the world to remain competitive.