Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), who is known for speaking exactly what’s on his mind, is pretty confident in his re-election prospects.
How confident? At a rally Monday night in Portland alongside New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), LePage told the audience that a local newspaper columnist ought to be put on a “suicide watch” ahead of his possible victory.
The governor asked for a volunteer from the crowd to watch over Bill Nemitz, a Portland Press Herald columnist who is critical of LePage, according to the Associated Press.
“I want to put Bill Nemitz on a suicide watch,” LePage said to laughter from the audience, as quoted by the AP. “We’ve got to make sure that for the next 24 hours that he doesn’t go anywhere near the new Bucksport bridge.”
Nemitz responded on Twitter:
Hey Big Guy @lepage2014… Suicide watch? As if! Don’t flatter yourself. #mepolitics
— Bill Nemitz (@BillNemitz) November 4, 2014
The TPM Polltracker average has challenger Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME) leading LePage 45.1 percent to 44.2 percent, with independent candidate Eliot Cutler polling at 9.3 percent.