WBXTV.com - Levesque Tries To Unseat Michaud In Maine

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By David Sharp, Associated Press Writer

All the elements are lining up for the biggest re-election challenge for Democratic Rep. Mike since he was first elected eight year ago: Nationwide, the electorate is angry, voters appear to be in full "throw-the-bums-out" mode and tea partiers are raising their voices.

Republican challenger Jason Levesque believes he has momentum on his side, and he hopes to get a financial boost from the Republican National Congressional Committee, giving him a shot in the arm in the run-up to Election Day.

It's a far cry from two years ago, when Michaud coasted to victory against self-proclaimed contrarian John Frary. In the last election at this time, a poll had Michaud ahead of Frary by a 41 percentage points. The margin is narrower this time. A recent poll puts Michaud ahead of Levesque by 12 percentage points.

"I don't think there's any doubt that this is the toughest fight Mike Michaud has faced since getting into the House," said Mark Brewer, political science professor at the University of Maine.

Levesque contends Michaud is out of step with Maine's sprawling 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses northern, western and eastern Maine, by voting for the federal stimulus bill, the president's health care reform and cap-and-trade carbon emission regulations. He said Michaud has voted with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 96 percent of the time.

"These people are hardworking folks who want to take care of their family and to take care of their communities, but they want Washington off their backs and out of their wallets," Levesque said.

Michaud said he votes his conscience and doesn't vote in lockstep with Pelosi.

"Nancy doesn't consider me to be a sure vote," said Michaud, who cited his vote against the Wall Street bailout, which is coming back to haunt some supporters of the measure. He also lobbied hard to make changes to the health care legislation to take into account the needs of rural states like Maine, he said.

Despite Democrats' distrust of Republicans, Michaud said he's willing to cross the aisle to work with members of the other party. As House chairman of the veterans' subcommittee on health, he said he's willing to work with Republicans, sometimes to the consternation of Democratic colleagues.

"My job is to make sure we take care of our veterans. If a Republican has a good idea, then I definitely want to work with them to move that idea forward," he said.

Michaud, a former mill worker, said his success in improving health care and access to health care for veterans in Maine is among his biggest achievements in Congress. There are new VA clinics in Houlton and Lincoln and mobile clinics as well; outpatient clinics also are in the works in Bangor and Lewiston.

Levesque, an Army veteran, said he respects Michaud's efforts on behalf of veterans but believes that more needs to be done to create jobs. He recalls being told when he left active duty as an infantryman in 1996 that there were no jobs, and that he should have stayed in the Army.

"I went to the veteran liaison in Lewiston. He said, 'Son, you should've stayed in. There's nothing here for you,'" he said. "My biggest fear is that our men and women are being told the same thing."

These days, Levesque, 36, of Auburn, is owner of Argo Marketing Group, which employs 35 people. Michaud, 55, of East Millinocket, is wrapping up his fourth term in Congress.

It's difficult to gauge voter sentiment at Simones Hot Dog Stand, a favored spot in Lewiston for testing the political waters. Customers normally would have announced their political favorites long ago, but there's no clear favorite now because voters are still deciding, said owner Jim Simones.

"They seem to be very, I don't want to say angry, but they're not happy with the way things are going. They're frustrated with government and the politicians," he said.

For now, Michaud has a huge fundraising advantage as both candidates begin hitting the airwaves. All told, Michaud outspent Levesque nearly 2-to-1, and had more cash on hand, $668,266, to Levesque's $56,523, according to the latest Federal Election Commission report.

Levesque said a cash infusion from the Republican National Congressional Committee could level the playing field. He visited RNCC's offices in Washington, D.C., last week. But he's not letting up either way.

Neither is Michaud, despite his relatively comfortable lead. "I don't take anything for granted," Michaud said. "We're out there working hard."

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