SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Hillary Clinton will appear before what organizers say will be a capacity crowd to rally for gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud at an event Friday evening at Scarborough High School.
The former secretary of state, U.S. senator and first lady is stopping in Maine as part of a midterm campaign swing throughout the country that Politico reports is designed to help fellow Democrats in targeted races where Clinton — who’s mulling a 2016 presidential run herself — is thought to be most popular.
The event is aimed not at undecided voters in Maine, of which most polls indicate there are relatively few. Clinton’s appearance is meant to energize Michaud’s base in the home stretch of the campaign.
“The energy for this event and Mike’s campaign is incredible,” said Lizzy Reinholt, Michaud’s spokeswoman, in a news release. “Now it’s essential we use this momentum to rally our supporters and volunteers to get out the vote as we head into the final 10 days of the election.”
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. at Scarborough High School, but Reinholt said the event is already expected to be at capacity with about 1,000 attendees.
Clinton is just the latest in a string of high-profile Democrats to stump for Michaud, who’s locked in a tight race with incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage, while independent candidate Eliot Cutler lags behind in the polls.
Michaud has appeared with Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Democratic Governors Association chairman Peter Shumlin of Vermont and first lady Michelle Obama.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to appear in Maine with Michaud next week.
The location of the Michaud-Clinton event is notable because it is the center of one of the most hotly contested Maine Senate races, where incumbent Democratic Sen. Jim Boyle is being challenged by GOP Rep. Amy Volk.
According to state campaign finance reports, the district has been the target of nearly $75,000 in independent expenditures in the past week alone, much of it spent to benefit Boyle as Democrats fight to maintain their majority in the Senate.
The decision to hold the Clinton rally in Scarborough — rather than Portland, where most large southern Maine political events are held — could represent the Democratic Party’s efforts to shore up support for Boyle as well as Michaud.
Follow Mario Moretto on Twitter at @riocarmine.
