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

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.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

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."