DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES: John E. Baldacci

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EAST MACHIAS – More than 150 hungry Down Easters were lined up in front of him, and Maine’s governor was in his element.

“Any time I’m serving spaghetti, I’m doing well,” Democrat John Baldacci told one woman as he carefully placed a pile of pasta on her paper plate at a recent fundraising dinner. “I do this in my sleep.”

Politics is also something the consummate campaigner (and restaurant owner) can do in his sleep, say pundits, who count Baldacci a heavy favorite in his June 13 primary against newcomer Christopher Miller of Gray.

The spaghetti suppers have become campaign staples for the 51-year-old Baldacci, a former congressman who has not lost a race since first elected to the Bangor City Council in 1978.

But this evening’s event at the town office building in East Machias is not campaign-related. Instead, all the money raised will go to a local charity.

The dinner, its purpose and the candidate went over well with Angela Cummings, who snapped pictures of Baldacci, sleeves rolled up, as he dished up pasta from the kitchen.

“He obviously cares about the community. That’s why I want my kids to grow up here,” said Cummings, 40, who recently moved from Arizona to nearby Marion with her husband.

“The governor of Arizona would never do this,” her husband, Jeff Cummings, 39, told Baldacci while making his way through the line.

“In Maine, we’re all on the same level,” Baldacci replied, then taking a minute to ask Cummings about his job prospects as a corrections officer.

Baldacci, despite a bout of low approval ratings in recent months, has proved adept at connecting with voters – particularly in the state’s northern congressional district, where he was elected to Congress four times.

Now, with his first term as governor coming to an end, Baldacci said there’s more his administration can accomplish.

“We’ve been able to build a foundation, and now it’s time to build the house on that foundation,” Baldacci said later that evening at an impromptu visit to a nearby Cub Scouts meeting. “The house is opportunity so that these kids can have a future here.”

While Baldacci’s political future likely is not in danger at the June primary, Republicans see him as weak heading into the November general election, where he would face the eventual GOP nominee as well as Maine Green Independent party nominee Pat LaMarche and at least two independents.

But absent a major scandal, knocking off Baldacci in the primary – and perhaps the general election – will not be easy, said Mark Brewer, a University of Maine political scientist.

“It will be extremely difficult,” Brewer said, noting Baldacci’s recent rebound in some polls, which show his popularity topping 50 percent.

It’s been 40 years since a sitting Maine governor was defeated, and 24 years since a sitting governor faced a primary opponent.

Although a favorite in his primary contest, Baldacci said he isn’t taking Miller’s challenge lightly.

“We welcome all ideas,” said Baldacci, although taking issue with Miller’s criticism of his energy plan as too timid.

Baldacci says the plan has already yielded results, including a new wind power project in Mars Hill and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. It also earned Baldacci a national environmental award, he noted.

Baldacci has been no stranger to criticism during his tenure.

Republicans have assailed his Dirigo health insurance initiative – designed to provide coverage to uninsured Mainers – as too costly.

Last year, Baldacci incurred the wrath of the state’s religious right when he pushed for a law banning discrimination against gays and lesbians. The law was later upheld in a statewide referendum.

And in Washington County – historically a stronghold for the governor – Baldacci lost favor with some when he vetoed a bill that would have allowed slot machines there.

Back in East Machias outside the Scouts meeting at the Elm Street School, Shawn Bagley remembered the veto.

While a supporter of the slots plan, Bagley, 56, said he harbored no resentment toward the governor, who moments earlier had posed for a picture with his son’s Cub Scouts pack.

“It’s a tough job for anybody, and I don’t think he’s done bad at all,” said Bagley, a registered Republican, who chalked up the slots vote to “just politics.”

“It’s been some bad, but mostly good,” he said. “I’ll vote for him again.”

John E. Baldacci

AGE: 51

ADDRESS: 79 Palm St., Bangor, ME 04401

E-MAIL: info@govenrorbaldacci.com

WEB SITE: www.governorbaldacci.com

FAMILY: Wife, Karen; son, Jack

EDUCATION: University of Maine, 1986

OCCUPATION: Governor, restaurant owner

EXPERIENCE: Bangor city councilor, 1978-81; state senator, 1982-94; 2nd District congressman, 1994-2002; governor, 2002-present

TOP THREE PRIORITIES IF

ELECTED:

? Expand access to affordable, quality health care

? Expand access to higher education

? Expand economic opportunity for Maine businesses and individuals