Maine’s Paul LePage is back — but has he changed?

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who described himself as “Trump before there was Trump” is running again. Now, he’s running as a kinder, gentler “LePage 2.0.”

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, Maine’s bombastic self-described “Trump before there was Trump” governor, Paul LePage, left office vowing he was “done with politics” and done with Maine. 

“I am going to retire and go to Florida,” he told reporters on one of the last days of his tumultuous eight-year tenure, as term limits prevented him from running again, suggesting he would never return.

The self-imposed exile did not last long. 

Now, LePage is back. He wants his old job back. And he’s supposedly a changed man — better-mannered, trimmer and more focused than the Tea Party politician once dubbed “America’s Craziest Governor.” And after cruising to the GOP nomination on Tuesday, the 73-year-old is one step closer to another term as governor.

Maine’s governor under fire for expletive-filled voicemailAug. 27, 201602:41“What he’s trying to do is not necessarily change his policy, but take some of the rough edges off,” said Mark Brewer, who chairs the University of Maine political science department.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/maines-paul-lepage-back-changed-rcna33671

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