LEWISTON –– Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler squared off Friday morning in Lewiston for their third debate in as many days.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage opted not to take part in the forum at the Ramada Inn Conference Center. The governor instead attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Washington County to celebrate the addition of a tissue paper machine at Woodland Pulp.

More than 360 people attended the event in Lewiston. The hourlong debate featured several exchanges in which Cutler attempted to press the 2nd District congressman on details of his proposals. He also took direct aim at Michaud’s claim that he can reduce partisanship in Augusta.

Michaud continued to focus his remarks on LePage, largely ignoring Cutler’s attacks. The tactic reflects Democrats’ insistence that the contest is a two-man race between Michaud and LePage, and that Cutler has no path to victory.

Michaud and Cutler have been on stage without the governor on other occasions during the campaign. On Friday, the two candidates sat together at a banquet table.

Cutler, an attorney from Cape Elizabeth, at times appeared frustrated. However, his press for details occasionally drew applause from the audience.

He said Michaud’s claim that he can bring the parties together is “naive.” He said special interest groups had a “stranglehold” on the political parties, which, he added, had put their interests ahead of those of Mainers.

Michaud largely stayed on message even as Cutler attempted to pick apart his policy proposals.

At one point, he told Michaud that he’d yield his speaking time if he thought the Democrat would “actually answer a question.” Michaud neither attacked Cutler nor responded directly to his proposals. Michaud’s campaign apparatus, however, did. It picked apart Cutler’s “pay it forward, pay it back” plan designed to lower college tuition costs.

The Legislature passed a bill this year to study the tuition funding scheme, which would allow students to receive free college tuition up front and then pay for it later by devoting a certain percentage of their incomes after graduation.

It was backed by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, and Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta. LePage has said that he’s open to reviewing the study.

During closing statements, Michaud said Maine needed a governor the state could be proud of and who would work with people who didn’t always agree with him.

“I’ve done that with this community for 12 years,” said Michaud.

Cutler focused on a common theme that the state needed a different political blueprint. He said the state was capable of great things, but “not if we accept politics as usual.”

He said: “We have to do things differently. . . . If we do, we will have amazing success.”

The debate concluded with Michaud saying that he and Cutler agreed that LePage should be replaced.

“What we don’t agree on is who would be a better successor,” Cutler responded.

Michaud has largely dismissed Cutler’s candidacy, saying he has not demonstrated that he can beat LePage.

Cutler, meanwhile, has crafted a different message, pointing to a new poll released Thursday that, as seen by his campaign, marks the beginning of a surge in support like the one he experienced late in the 2010 campaign, when he overtook Democrat Libby Mitchell and finished only 2 percentage points behind LePage.

The poll referred to by Cutler’s campaign was conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS between Sept. 23 and 29. It showed Cutler in third place with 19.5 percent of the vote, behind LePage with 39.3 percent and Michaud with 33.6 percent, subject to a 4.9 percent margin of error. For Cutler, the results varied little from a poll the same firm conducted in April, which showed him with 20.3 percent.

A different poll, conducted online by YouGov for CBS and The New York Times, showed Michaud with a 37 percent to 35 percent lead over LePage, with Cutler trailing at 10 percent and 13 percent undecided, with a 2.8 percent margin of error.

Republicans, who need Cutler to perform well to ensure that LePage wins, also portrayed the poll results as evidence of strong support for Cutler.

Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, which has conducted polling for the Portland Press Herald, said he wouldn’t draw too many conclusions from either poll. A UNH Survey Center poll for the Press Herald last month indicated Michaud was leading LePage 40 percent to 38 percent, but within the poll’s margin of error. Cutler trailed at 12 percent.

The margins between the candidates did not change when undecided voters were asked whom they would choose if the election were held that day.

Steve Mistler can be contacted at 791-6345 or at:

smistler@pressherald.com

Twitter: stevemistler

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