A majority of Maine voters disapprove of the job Gov. Paul LePage (R-ME) is doing, according to a survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling released Tuesday.
Fifty-five percent of voters in the state said they disapprove of LePage’s performance as governor, compared with 39 percent who approve. The poll also showed LePage, who will be up for re-election next year, losing in every hypothetical head-to-head matchup. But LePage won every three-way hypothetical that was tested by PPP, an indication that a third-party candidate may ultimately rescue the unpopular governor.
Elected in 2010, the combative LePage has drawn plenty of attention for his often-stormy relationship with other lawmakers and the press. A meeting with legislators last week ended with LePage pounding on the table and cursing. Last summer, LePage criticized the new federal health care law by comparing the Internal Revenue Service to the Gestapo. When a reporter asked him about the comparison, LePage offered a profanity-laced apology to those who were offended.
“It was never intended to offend anyone,” LePage said in July. “And if someone’s offended, then they ought to be goddamn mad at the federal government.”
