Well, that was strange!
This morning came word that Eliot Cutler, the independent candidate for governor in Maine, would hold a press conference at his campaign headquarters.
From the Portland Press Herald:
Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler will hold a press conference Wednesday morning at his Portland campaign office.
Although the details of the event were not released, it is highly likely that Cutler will address his chances in the race.
It was widely expected that Cutler would drop out of the race since he has been trailing badly in this three way race. The
Real Clear Politics average of the last five polls in this race has republican governor LePage slightly ahead of Michaud, 39.4% to 38.8%, while Cutler trails with 13.6%.
Instead, as described by Eric Russell of the Press-Herald, Cutler was alternately "defiant" and "resigned" as he gave his "confusing" statement.
I truly believe in democracy and the ultimate authority of voters to vote for whomever they want for whatever reason and I don’t think any voter, whether a supporter of mine or not, now needs or ever has needed my permission or my blessing to vote for one of my opponents,” Cutler said at a press conference at his Portland office. “Nevertheless, I want to reiterate what I said six months ago: Anyone who has supported me but who now worries that I cannot win and is thereby compelled by their fears or by their conscience to vote instead for Mr. LePage or Mr. Michaud should do so.
Although it was reported that Cutler was all but
conceding the race, his statement was also part mini-rant that might be seen by his supporters as encouragement to still vote for him.
“I am not standing down … and neither should those voters whose consciences compel them to cast a vote for me,” he said. “I am a realist about my chances, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to kow-tow to party politics and allow a bunch of polls to drown out the voices of thousands of Maine people who believe that standing for principle, ideals and ideas makes you an American and not a spoiler.”
The big unknown remains: Will Culter supporters afraid of four more years of Governor Le Page move over to Michaud in the remaining days before the election.