Libby Mitchell has received a high profile endorsement today, perhaps the most well-known endorsement for any candidate yet. Ex-President Bill Clinton has thrown his support behind Mitchell for governor.
In an email, Clinton asked Mainers to elect Mitchell as Governor. Clinton went on to say, “My trust in Libby has never been misplaced. She has served with distinction throughout her career, being the first woman chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and the first in the country to preside over both a houses of the state legislature.”
Bill Clinton’s endorsement is a big bright feather in Mitchell’s cap. Clinton is easily the most recognizable person on the national scene to come out in support of any candidate so far. The Mitchell camp is pleased by this news. In an email statement, Sen. Michell said she was,”thrilled and honored to receive President Clinton’s endorsement in this race for Governor. He shares my optimism about the future of Maine and the country at-large. He understands that with tough, bold leadership, we will move forward to a more prosperous future. President Clinton speaks eloquently about how we as citizens are connected to one another.”
If Mitchell was in danger of not qualifying for Clean Elections funding, which her campaign manger says were false rumors, this endorsement will certainly put Mitchell over the top. According to Dirigo Blue, who first ran the story, this endorsement from Clinton comes from a long standing relationship with the former President and from Mitchell’s support of Hillary Clinton for President. Pine Tree Politics has more on the money angle and more.
Mitchell has received nods from outside the state before. Politico ran two stories featuring Mitchell earlier in the campaign. The first centered around the possibility of another first for Mitchell – becoming Maine’s first female governor. The second stated that Mitchell was one of the top 25 politicians to watch in 2010. When it comes to donations however, roughly 80% of Mitchell’s donors were in-state. That points to ground support, especially once Mitchell qualifies for funding.
It is almost moot at this point that she will be on the ballot and qualify for clean funds. Clinton’s endorsement is by no means vaults Mitchell ahead of the pack. While she has certainly cemented her position as one of the top tier candidates, this thing is far from over. This is a wake-up call for the other candidates. If you aren’t close to completing your signature gathering or reaching your qualifying donations for clean candidates, you might as well throw in the towel. Unless you can pull off some grand trick to The Final Countdown, the show is over.
