Politics

Republican Paul LePage has a slim lead over Democrat Mike Michaud in the Maine governor's race. That's according to the latest Pan Atlantic SMS Omnibus Poll, out today. The survey also shows independent candidate Eliot Cutler running nearly 20 points behind both candidates. Cutler's campaign dismissed the numbers, saying it's way too early in the political season to tell where things will end up in November. Both the LePage and Michaud campaigns, though, say the poll holds clues as to why their candidate will ultimately win.

Independent Eliot Cutler is proposing a tax overhaul that would slash property taxes for many Mainers while raising the sales tax, either permanently or seasonally, to make up the difference. Cutler, who's in a three-way race for governor with Republican incumbent Paul LePage and Democrat Mike Michaud, chose tax day to unveil the plan, which he says would lower property taxes for most Maine homeowners by 20 to 40 percent by boosting tax relief through the homestead exemption.

Seven months ahead of Maine's gubernatorial elections, independent candidate Eliot Cutler has announced what he desribes as the first in a series of policy proposals: a 21-point transportation and communications infrastructure plan. Cutler, who has launched his second bid for the Blaine House, says more than half of the roads in the state system haven't been properly maintained since the 1950s and many of Maine's bridges have deterioriated to the danger point.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Democratic Senate candidate Shenna Bellows is joining a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court that's sponsored by groups that support access to birth control.

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases dealing with access to birth control. Two companies want the right to decline to pay for birth control under their personal health insurance plans.

Bellows, who's challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins, said birth control decisions should be made by a woman in consultation with her doctor, ``not the government and certainly not her boss.''

Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says supporters of a referendum to prohibit the use of dogs, bait or traps to hunt bear have submitted enough valid signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.

Dunlap says supporters turned in 63,626 valid signatures, 6,349 more than required.

The signature petitions were submitted by the group Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, which is seeking to end the practice of using bait, traps and dogs to hunt bear.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Democrat Mike Michaud is set to make his first major policy address since announcing his campaign for Maine governor.

Michaud plans to announce an economic platform Wednesday in Portland. Afterward he will hold a series of events through the end of the week with business leaders and community leaders across the state.

Spokeswoman Lizzy Reinholt says the economic plan was borne out of conversations with business leaders and experts.

She said it's ''long on ideas and short on rhetoric.''

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Blaine Richardson says he will run as an independent in Maine's 2nd Congressional District race.

The Belfast conservative is expected to announce Monday on Bangor radio station WVOM that he's leaving the Republican Party.

The Kennebec Journal reports that Richardson received more than a third of the votes in the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2012, losing to former Maine Senate President Kevin Raye.