Excepting a few outliers, polls of the Maine gubernatorial race have been relatively unchanged for months, showing Gov. Paul LePage (R) in a virtual tie with Rep. Mike Michaud (D) at 40%, with left-leaning unenrolled candidate Eliot Cutler in a distant third at around 15%. Cutler came in a close second to LePage in 2010 in a late surge as the Democratic Party candidate faded in the last week of the campaign.
While support for LePage among his base is strong, he has a hard ceiling of 40%. Thus, LePage's only path to victory is for Michaud and Cutler to split the remaining votes.
Most polls so far have Michaud beating LePage in a two way race by five to eight points. With Michaud consistently polling in the high thirties, LePage needs a strong showing by Cutler to siphon votes from Michaud.
For months, Maine Republican operatives have withheld any criticism of Cutler, while bashing Michaud at every opportunity. It's become so obvious to politicos here that GOP shills are routinely called out for it on Twitter and other social media.
But this latest ad from the Republican Governors Association (RGA) makes it plain for all to see. For the unknowing, it would appear to be an ad directly from the Cutler campaign:
Gov. Paul LePage has been called "an embarrassment," and his crass and crude statements are known nationwide. It is time to show LePage the door, and you can help by visiting Michaud for Governor.