Two Maine Democrats Endorse Cutler

State Senator Dennis Damon (D-Trenton) and State Representative Leila J. Percy (D-Phippsburg) have announced they will support Eliot Cutler for governor.  Damon believed Cutler to be the most qualified to lead the state of all the gubernatorial candidates.  He was also influenced by Cutler’s business and government experience.  “Most of all,” said Damon. “I have confidence in his bold ideas to get Maine’s economy moving again — lowering our costs and investing in our competitive advantages.”

Percy echoed similar sentiments adding, “Both lawmakers and citizens want our next governor to be fair-minded and even-tempered.  We need a leader who will chart our course without sacrificing the qualities that ensure Maine remains the productive, just and tolerant state we love.”

Cutler was of course pleased by the endorsements and called for voters of every political stripe to join Damon and Percy in supporting him.  “Dennis and Leila are showing great political courage by supporting me,” Cutler said, “and many others are ready to join us in the center. My campaign is the biggest tent is this race. There is no ideological litmus test to join us. All we ask is that you love Maine and are committed to helping us create a new way forward for our state.”

Both Damon and Percy said that they would remain Democrats and continue support electing Democrats to legislative positions.

Will endorsements like this be important?  In the primary they were essentially meaningless.  Steve Abbott had many supporters in Maine’s legislature, as did Steve Rowe.  Senate Minority Leader Kevin Raye backed Les Otten.  Pat McGowan received support from Joe Kennedy.  Libby Mitchell received nods from Hannah Pingree and Bill Clinton.  Paul LePage grabbed some legislative support as well.  Aside from Mitchell and LePage, it’s clear how far those endorsements went for everyone.  It is next to impossible to tell how much Mitchell and LePage’s endorsements really helped her.  The likely answer is little.  LePage’s win came from his silent majority of supporters and under the radar campaign, not any endorsements.  Mitchell’s win was due in large part to how she conducted her campaign compared to her opponents, not a robo-call from Bubba.

Then again, that was the primary and those were party candidates.  Support from party legislators means something else for Cutler.  They can show that Cutler is, as he argues, someone who can shake hands with both aisles and create an environment of non-partisanship in Augusta.  Cutler would need to garner some Republican endorsements to truly prove that.  Which brings up a final thought.

Cutler said that Damon and Percy showed political courage in supporting him.  Both legislators made it clear they would continue supporting their party in legislative elections.  Since both legislators are termed out, there is little for them to lose in supporting a non-party candidate. However, could breaking with their party adversely impact other legislators, if not in elections than in their Augusta exploits?    Political capitol is a treasured commodity.   Others will have to consider this as they come to their own conclusions about who they wish to see in the Blaine House.