AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is distancing himself from anti-casino “robo calls” that use a recording of his voice.
The calls, funded by Mainers Against a Rotten Deal, featured a recording of LePage speaking last week at Colby College in Waterville. During the speech, LePage said, “I do not see how five casinos in Maine can be sustained.”
Registered voters began receiving the calls Monday night.
After voting today in Augusta, LePage said he was angered by the robo calls.
“It’s a cheap shot to Maine people,” he said.
Chris O’Neil of Mainers Against a Rotten Deal said that his group had identified a group of Republicans who would be influenced by LePage’s views on the issues. He said the calls never claimed that LePage was opposed to Questions 2 or 3.
“He’s the governor, and what he says in public is paid attention to, and it was all over the airwaves last week,” O’Neil said. “We didn’t misinterpret anything he said.”
LePage, who has not taken a position on either Question 2 or Question 3, also released a statement that sought to distance himself from phone calls.
The statement said: “Governor Paul LePage did not authorize the calls and although the person or persons responsible for these calls used some of the Governor’s remarks from a recent event at Colby College, his position has stayed the same. Governor LePage has not endorsed or opposed Questions 2 or 3. Instead, he has always maintained that it is up to the voters to make the decision and that it should be decided locally.”
Question 2 asks voters if they will approve racinos – racetracks with slot machines – in Biddeford and Washington County, and Question 3 asks voters to approve a casino for Lewiston.
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