Republican Gov. Paul LePage, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, and independent Eliot Cutler exchanged blows over a range of policy areas and current events Wednesday in the first debate of the 2014 gubernatorial campaign – trading jabs over the recent job losses at the University of Southern Maine and the announced closure of the Verso paper mill in Bucksport.

The highly anticipated forum before a crowd of approximately 670 paid attendees at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland came in a closely contested race. A recent poll done by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram shows that Michaud has a slight lead over LePage, but within the margin of error, with Cutler running a distant third. Cutler had been calling for debates since the beginning of the year in the hopes of improving his chances in November.

Michaud and LePage criticized each other repeatedly, although their exchanges were relatively civil. LePage, the most expressive of the three, was at times insistent in defending his record and self-deprecating while acknowledging his history for impolitic comments. As Cutler and Michaud took turns attacking his record, LePage leaned back, brought his hands to his chest, shook his head and smiled at his supporters in the crowd.

On two occasions LePage high-fived Cutler, whose candidacy is dividing the anti-LePage vote and improving his chances for reelection.

Michaud, meanwhile, spoke broadly while consistently attacking LePage’s record. He never spoke directly to Cutler, reflecting his campaign’s insistence that the race is a two-man contest and that the election is a referendum on the governor.

The tone was set early when Chris Hall, the moderator and CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber, asked the candidates to return for another event the day after the election. Cutler said he would attend. LePage wavered, saying he had travel plans. Michaud joked that he would help the governor leave the state.

“That’s good,” said LePage, clasping his hands together and laughing.

Cutler’s remarks were detailed, beginning with the question about the University of Southern Maine and changes confronting the entire University of Maine system. He said the state should merge the University of Maine system and the community college system, citing duplicative administrative costs.

“We have two CEOs, two boards of trustees, two of this two of that,” he said. “We need to do a better job. It’s not Noah’s Ark.”

LePage wasn’t convinced that the independent’s plan was a good one.

“(The systems) have different missions. I don’t like to see the missions corrupted,” LePage said.

Michaud said that the University of Southern Maine job cuts announced this week were the result of a “perfect storm” of stagnant funding and declining enrollment. The candidates also offered a range of opinions on the Verso closure. Michaud said that declining demand and internal corporate competition had hamstrung the mill. He also blamed LePage for not working with other New England governors for not helping to expand natural gas capacity to Maine – a factor in the closure.

LePage shook his head while Michaud criticized him. He said Michaud had obstructed the gas expansion with his votes in Congress. The governor also said he wasn’t convinced that Verso would close, but not before blaming the state’s regulatory environment for the decline of the paper industry.

Cutler hit both of his rivals, saying neither had done anything to plan for the closure. He urged the governor not to pursue a deal like the one that LePage endorsed for the mill in Millinocket.

“Please don’t do another Cate Street deal,” he said, referring to the investment firm that secured a taxpayer backed loan and tax credits to run Great Northern Paper Co.

After Michaud said that unfair trade deals had contributed to the decline of the paper industry, Cutler criticized him for campaigning with President Bill Clinton. Cutler called Clinton, “the father of NAFTA,” the North American Free Trade Agreement, which critics say has put the United States at a competitive disadvantage.

During closing statements, Cutler appealed to the audience to choose a different path than the one his party rivals were offering. He also hit Michaud for his claim that he would bring bipartisan solutions to Maine.

“Mike you’ve worked across a lot of aisles, I acknowledge that. But you’ve never created a job,” Cutler said.

LePage addressed his reputation for impolitic comments. He wasn’t a typical politician, he said. He joked that most of the controversial things he said occurred during his first two years in office.

“Even a Frenchman can be taught to calm down,” said LePage emphatically, drawing laughs from the crowd.

Michaud addressed why he was running. He said the reason was LePage.

“There’s one person holding us back and that’s Gov. LePage,” Michaud said.

LePage attempted to interrupt Michaud during his closing statements.

“But I’m honest,” he said.

Steve Mistler can be contacted at 791-6345 or at:

smistler@pressherald.com

Twitter: @stevemistler

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