Gov. Paul LePage says critic needs to be on 'suicide watch' during his midterm victory

Gov. Paul LePage says critic needs to be on 'suicide watch' during his midterm victory
(Image credit: Facebook/Paul LePage, Maine's Governor)

Gov. Paul LePage (R-Maine) is in a lot of hot water after saying one of his critics should be put on a "suicide watch" during LePage's midterm victory.

LePage was speaking of Bill Nemitz, a columnist for The Portland Press Herald. He made the remarks Monday night during a rally with Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) in Portland.

"I want to put Bill Nemitz on a suicide watch," LePage said. "We've got to make sure that for the next 24 hours that he doesn't go anywhere near the new Bucksport bridge." He also asked for a volunteer to "keep an eye on" Nemitz, according to The Associated Press.

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Meanwhile, Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant told AP that LePage's remark was "distasteful and inappropriate." Nemitz, for his part, took the statement in jest: He later tweeted, "Suicide watch? As if! Don't flatter yourself."

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.