Clinton visit planned for Baldacci camp Former president to stump at event in South Portland

Former President Bill Clinton will come to Maine in three weeks to campaign for Gov. John Baldacci at a $500 a ticket reception to benefit the Bangor Democrat’s re-election bid.

Clinton’s June 5 visit to South Portland undoubtedly will draw attention – and money – to Baldacci’s campaign, say political experts.

“He can pack them in,” Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said of Clinton, who is far and away the Democratic Party’s most potent fundraiser.

“People are always happy to see a president, whether they like him or not,” Sabato said. “They’ll pay for the privilege to have a picture for their wallet.”

Baldacci campaign officials, who posted the visit on their Web site Thursday, could not be reached for comment.

The Clinton reception will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Sable Oaks Marriott, according to the Web site. The facility can hold about 1,000 people.

Clinton is the latest – and highest-profile – political heavyweight to weigh in on the Maine governor’s race.

Earlier this week, Republican gubernatorial candidate David Emery announced that U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona would attend a fundraiser for his campaign on May 21 in South Portland.

Emery, a former congressman from St. George, is one of three Republicans vying for that party’s nomination.

State Sens. Peter Mills of Cornville and Chandler Woodcock of Farmington are the other candidates in what is expected to be a close GOP primary on June 13.

Baldacci has his own primary challenge in Christopher Miller of Gray, an activist in Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign.

Baldacci is considered a heavy favorite in his primary contest. Political scientist Jim Melcher said Clinton’s visit before that primary would bring attention to Baldacci’s camp at a time when the media are focused on the more competitive Republican contest.

“Besides fundraising, it will get him in the newspaper for a few days and give him a chance to get his themes out there,” said Melcher, who works at the University of Maine at Farmington. “Whenever you bring an ex-president to town, there’s lot of interest and excitement – and money.”

After learning of Clinton’s visit, Julie Ann O’Brien, the executive director of the Maine Republican Party, was nonplussed.

“I don’t know that it will help [Baldacci],” said O’Brien, whose party considers the Bangor Democrat weak heading into the election.

O’Brien said Thursday that besides McCain, the Maine GOP has other high-profile visitors in the pipeline. She declined to elaborate.

On the Democratic side, Baldacci will appear at a Saturday fundraiser with former U.S. senator and 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards and author Stephen King.

The price of admission to the Edwards-King event at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono ranges from $50 to $500.

Edwards is in Orono to deliver the commencement address at the University of Maine.

So far, two other candidates have qualified for the November ballot in hopes of knocking off Baldacci. They are Pat LaMarche of the Maine Green Independent Party and state Rep. Barbara Merrill, an independent.