AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Republican Party has unearthed a video from Democrat Emily Cain’s primary campaign in 2014, and it is using it to attack her current campaign for the 2nd District congressional seat, which is now held by Republican incumbent Bruce Poliquin.
In 2011, Cain was in legislative leadership when the state budget was adopted, providing the largest income tax cut in state history. Cain is touting that in her campaign.
But the Republican Party has a video from her primary campaign in 2014, in which she calls that budget the worst she had ever seen.
Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine GOP, said that is lying to the voters.
“Largest income tax cut in Maine history that Emily Cain is taking credit for, although she — she opposed that,” Savage said. “And, you know, she is actually adopting Gov. [Paul] LePage’s language and talking points in this — that is how far this has gone.”
But Cain said they got it wrong. She said she was referring to the original budget proposal, not what was passed, which she supported. And Cain said the GOP attack is an indication that the race is getting closer.
“I think the negative attacks are going to continue right up until the very end,” she said. “I know if I was not doing well in connecting with Maine voters they wouldn’t be trolling out these old attacks time and time again.”
This article appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.