Gov. John Baldacci’s re-election campaign on Monday tapped Jesse Connolly of Portland to manage the governor’s bid to reclaim the Blaine House in 2006.

Connolly most recently helped engineer the defeat of Question 1, the high-profile effort to overturn the state’s new gay rights law last November. Baldacci was a driving force behind the law during its trip through the Legislature.

“He has done of lot of good things in his four years, and I believe he deserves a second term. We will communicate that to the people of Maine,” said Connolly, who will begin his new position on Jan. 1.

Connolly’s resume also includes managing Democrat John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign in Maine.

Just 27 years old, Connolly is considered a young gun in Maine political circles based on his success in the past two election cycles, according to campaign watchers.

In November, 55 percent of Mainers opposed the gay rights repeal effort. In 2004, Kerry took 54 percent of the vote in Maine and won all four of the state electoral votes.

“[Connolly] certainly made a believer out of me,” said Christian Potholm, a veteran Republican pollster and political scientist from Bowdoin College, citing Connolly’s apparent ability to mobilize voters in key areas such as Lewiston in the defeat of Question 1.

But Republicans, buoyed by Baldacci’s sagging poll numbers heading into the new year, say Connolly has a difficult task ahead of him.

“[Baldacci] has not been a leader,” Mike Leavitt, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, said Monday.

“As an incumbent, he has certain inherent advantages, but I think he’s going to have a hard time making his case to the Maine people,” continued Leavitt, who faulted the administration for, among other things, failing to deliver effective tax reform.

Although voters generally pay little attention to the inner workings of a campaign, pundits said Connolly’s involvement could help shore up support for Baldacci among some left-leaning voters, who remember both men’s work on the gay rights issue. But what about the state’s religious right, which is still stinging from the defeat of Question 1?

“They’re probably not going to vote for [Baldacci] anyway,” said University of Maine political analyst Amy Fried.

As it stands, there are three major Republican candidates for governor – state Sens. Peter Mills of Cornville and Chandler Woodcock of Farmington, and former U.S. Rep. Dave Emery.

Last week, Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth announced her intention to seek the Maine Green Independent Party nomination.

There are also several independents – including Jonesboro activist Nancy Oden – who have announced candidacies.