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LePage, Poliquin Push Trump Economic Agenda, Say They'll Campaign For His Reelection

Mal Leary
/
Maine Public

At a forum set up by the Trump campaign, several business owners endorsed the President’s economic policies as mostly helping them and the state to prosper.

Former-Governor Paul LePage says most of Trump’s economic policies are working, and LePage will campaign for his reelection.

“I’m going to be helping the President when I come back in the spring,” LePage says. “And I am going to be all out. This winter I am going to be helping him in Florida. I really believe that we cannot change course.”

But LePage is critical of Trump’s trade war with China.

“I agree with everything he has done with the exception of the battle with China,” he says. “The battle with China is particularly hurting Maine in its lobster industry.”

Former 2nd District Congressman Bruce Poliquin agreed, and says he will be campaigning for Trump across the district, asking voters to judge Trump on his economic policies.

“Are you making more in your job now and, if you don’t like your job, can you more easily get another one down the road? Are your kids safer now that we have someone fighting to secure our borders?” Poloquin asked at the forum.

Some economists are concerned about the growing possibility of a recession. Both LePage and Poliquin say they are convinced that GOP tax cuts will offset any future recession if it happens.

Democrats, meanwhile, say Trump's economic policies have been disastrous for Maine, with state lobster exports plunging in the past year in the face of retaliatory tariffs from China.

Originally published Aug. 22, 2019 at 5:45 a.m. ET.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.