Donald Trump has canceled what would have been his fourth campaign appearance in Maine.
Trump was scheduled to appear Thursday at the Portland Expo, but on Monday his national campaign notified city staff that it was canceling that rally because of a campaign routing issue, city spokeswoman Jessica Grondin said.
The campaign is looking to reschedule, Grondin said, but no date has been set.
Hope Hicks, the spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, and Christie-Lee McNally, the Maine campaign director, did not respond to requests for comment.
The cancellation comes a day after the New York Times published a front-page story saying that Trump may not have paid federal income taxes for as many as 18 years by declaring a $916 million loss on his 1995 return.
The Republican nominee had drawn big crowds during three previous campaign stops — in Portland in August and March, and in Bangor in June.
Trump’s electoral strategy to pay attention to Maine, not traditionally a battleground state, is supported by polls that show him with strong support in the northern, rural 2nd Congressional District.
A Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 15-20 by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center showed Clinton with a 40 percent to 36 percent lead statewide, but had Trump with a 48 percent to 34 percent edge in the 2nd District.
Maine is one of two states – Nebraska is the other – that can split its electoral votes. Maine has four electoral votes up for grabs, one for each congressional district and two for winning the state overall. Maine has never split its electoral votes. The last time the state voted for a Republican candidate was George H.W. Bush in 1988.
Trump’s campaign never confirmed his appearance, which was first reported on Friday by local media. His campaign schedule lists rallies in four cities this week in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada. There is currently no event slated for Thursday, according to his website.
Matt Byrne can be contacted at 791-6303 or at:
mbyrne@pressherald.com
Twitter: MattByrnePPH
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