Baldacci touts Maine policies Convention-goers hear of state’s health care, job retention

BOSTON – Gov. John Baldacci told a rapidly filling Democratic National Convention on Tuesday that Mainers needed new leadership in Washington to help the state maintain its forerunner status in providing health care and attempting to spur job creation.

“It is obvious we need a new administration that puts people first,” said Baldacci, New England’s lone Democratic governor, whose address from the convention’s FleetCenter stage prompted a standing ovation from the Maine delegation and a few members of the neighboring Florida contingent.

Baldacci’s speech, like others before it in the early evening time slot, ran about three minutes. During the talk, he touted Maine’s Dirigo health plan, which has gained national attention for its result of providing health insurance to more state residents.

“In the last 18 months under Democratic leadership, we have forged ahead,” said Baldacci, who signed the Dirigo bill into law in June. He also noted Maine’s adoption of Pine Tree Zones, designed to create jobs by providing tax incentives to employers that locate in disadvantaged areas of the state.

The enthusiasm from the Maine delegation drew attention from one of several roaming C-SPAN camera operators who have been a constant presence on the convention floor.

“Nicely done,” said a standing Mark Ouellette, a Kerry delegate from Scarborough, after the speech, which Baldacci rehearsed the previous day at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Boston.

“He really highlighted how Maine is leading the nation,” said Ouellette, clad in “Bush Cheated” T-shirt and wearing an orange lobster atop his baseball cap.

Like others in the delegation, Ouellette also sported a “We love our Gov.” sticker, left over from a rooftop reception for Baldacci on Monday night at the Colonnade Hotel, which is home to the Maine contingent.

Maine has played a larger role in this year’s presidential election than in many past contests. The state – particularly its northern congressional district – is considered a toss-up because of its independent voting history and the narrow margin by which President Bush lost in 2000.

Baldacci, chairman of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s Maine campaign, did have his detractors – chief among them officials with the Bush campaign in Maine.

“Governor Baldacci has taken a page from John Kerry’s play book and is manipulating the facts as he tries to blame the president for our state’s fiscal problems,” said Peter Cianchette, chairman of Bush’s Maine campaign, after reviewing a transcript of the speech.

Baldacci’s trip to Boston is funded by the Maine Democratic Party.