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Maine Among Democrat-Leaning States Donald Trump is Targeting

In the next few weeks Donald Trump is expected to hire a campaign manager for Maine and start to set up a statewide campaign organization.

Maine is one of 15 states that traditionally lean Democrat that the Trump campaign plans to target this year.

Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett says that’s no surprise to him. He says polling and election results show the state is changing. He points out Republicans hold three of the top five elected positions in the state, which he says is a clear indication voter attitudes are changing.

“They are looking at the fact that Maine is increasingly going Republican. That of our major officeholders in Maine there is only one Democrat currently,” he says.

Bennett says polling also indicates Mainers are shifting how they vote, regardless of their actual party affiliation. He says Trump is not a typical candidate and that will appeal to a broad cross section of voters.

“The Gallop organization has shown that Maine gone from blue to purple, leans red,” he says. “So I think all of these things suggest Maine has a chance of going Republican this year.”

Copyright 2016 Maine Public

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.

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