Michaud's positions on social issues — in his last re-election campaign, he officially announced he had no stand on abortion at all — isn't going to cut it with left-wing activists in Portland and vicinity. Likely independent candidate Eliot Cutler will use the congressman's ambivalence to eat his organic, free-range lunch.
While Michaud may gain some traction in the north with his anti-free-trade stands, even those who agree with him might eventually notice that opposing those deals doesn't actually create any jobs.
His recent ambivalence on the subject of increased background checks for gun buyers and banning the sale of large ammo clips opens the way for LePage, with his unyielding pro-gun positions, to steal away what had been one of Michaud's core constituencies.
Michaud may claim he's just trying to find workable solutions to complex problems. But he comes off as being wishy-washy, something that neither of his chief opponents has been accused of. (Cutler has been called deceitful, arrogant, and out of touch, and LePage is branded as immature, inept, and intemperate, but when it comes to the extremes of northern and southern Maine voters, those faults are generally considered minor — even admirable — in comparison to not daring to say whether you're with us or against us.)
In a real fight, something Michaud hasn't had since he won his seat in Congress the first time in 2002, this match-up bodes ill for Democrats.
And this time, I'm being serious.
Well, not all that serious. Governor Michaud would be good for a lot of laughs. Inaugural jokes can be emailed to aldiamon@herniahill.net.
Topics:
Talking Politics
, Mike Michaud, Mark Strong Sr., Zumba
