PORTLAND

Less than a week before Election Day, President Barack Obama swung through Maine on Thursday and called on Democrats to get everyone they know to the polls to defeat Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

Before roughly 3,000 supporters of gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud in Portland, Obama stressed the closeness of the race, warning Democrats that the election is “too important to stay home.”

He noted independent U.S. Sen. Angus King’s decision Wednesday to throw his support behind Michaud — after initially backing Cutler — and called on all Democrats to unite behind the sixterm congressman.

“I agree with what (King) said yesterday,” Obama said before the lively crowd at the Portland Exposition Building. “It’s time to come together around Mike Michaud as our choice to lead Maine forward.”

Obama never mentioned LePage by name, but took several shots at the Republican governor, criticizing him for opposition to raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicaid under the federal health care law.

He touted Michaud’s work as state Senate president and focus on military and veterans’ issues in Congress, and stressed that the former mill worker would not forget his roots.

“Mike’s got a vision for what the future looks like and it’s a vision rooted in our conviction that in America prosperity doesn’t trickle down from the top,” Obama said.

Democrats hope the rally will energize their base and give Michaud a last-minute boost in the tight race. Polls show Michaud and LePage tied with independent Eliot Cutler in a distant third.

Democratic Party Chairman

Ben Grant said the party needs to fill thousands of more shifts for its get-outthe vote effort this weekend, which includes making phone calls and knocking on doors.

“Make no mistake, after all the ads, after all the press conferences … the election is in your hands,” Grant said.

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