Independents Gain Ground In Race For Governor (Maine)

[MaineDem]

In an exclusive NEWS CENTER/Survey USA Poll conducted October 20-22, 2006, we asked 634 likely voters, "If the election for Governor were today, would you vote for? Republican Chandler Woodcock, Democrat John Baldacci, Green Party candidate Pat LaMarche, Independent candidate Barbara Merrill, Independent candidate Phillip NaPier, or some other candidate?"

42% said they would vote for John Baldacci, 34% said Republican Chandler Woodcock, 12% chose Independent Barbara Merrill, 9% said Green Party candidate Pat LaMarche and 1% said Independent Philip Napier. 2% said they are still undecided.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/elections/article.aspx?storyid=43841

Baldacci's numbers haven't really changed. He;s holding his own even with the third party candidates thrown in. Merrill is a former Dem who left the party to challenge the incumbent Democratic Governor. She would never have beaten him in a primary.

This is the first time public financing has been used for the Governor's race and it's proving to be an expensive race for the taxpayers. The third parties would never have run any sort of viable campaign if the qualifying for public funding was stiffer. I think we'll see this change over time.

In any case, things are cautiously optimistic for us to retain this Governorship.