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Maine governor endorses Trump

by TheHill.com - 02/26/16 4:55 PM ET

Maine Gov. Paul LePage has endorsed Donald Trump, becoming the second Republican governor on Friday to back the GOP presidential candidate.

“Now I get to defend all the good stuff he says,” LePage laughed after announcing his endorsement on “The Howie Carr Show.”

{mosads}LePage said he didn’t agree with everything Trump says, but praised the candidate’s “Make America Great Again” slogan: “He’s showing a vision for the future.”

LePage had endorsed Chris Christie in the GOP race, before the New Jersey governor dropped out after a poor showing in New Hampshire earlier this month.

Christie endorsed Trump on Friday and immediately went to work bashing the businessman’s top remaining rivals, including Marco Rubio.

Trump faced a barrage of attacks from Rubio and Ted Cruz in Thursday’s GOP debate.

LePage has repeatedly drawn attention for blunt rhetoric about crime and minorities.

In January, LePage said drug traffickers with names like “D-Money,” “Smoothie” and “Shifty” were importing heroin into his state.

“Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave,” LePage added at a town hall. He had denied his remarks were racist.

LePage on Friday knocked Cruz and Rubio for contributing to “creating the gridlock” in Washington, and criticized Rubio for not showing up for a vote.

LePage suggested Trump take advice from former rivals like Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who is still in the GOP race.

“I think he could be one of the greatest presidents ever if he sits down and puts together a good team,” LePage said.

–Updated at 5:20 p.m.

Tags 2016 GOP primary Donald Trump Maine Marco Rubio Ted Cruz