LEWISTON — Former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and her husband, former Gov. John McKernan, are among a group hosting a fundraising event for Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s re-election campaign later in August.

The event, featuring New Jersey’s Republican Gov. Chris Christie, will be held at the Lucerne Inn in Dedham, just outside of Ellsworth.

The announcement is the first indication that Snowe and McKernan will again publicly back LePage in his bid to capture a second term in the Blaine House.

Since leaving the U.S. Senate in 2012, Snowe has campaigned nationally on supporting bipartisan compromise in Washington. Snowe also runs a political action committee that donates to candidates she considers bipartisan problem solvers.

Lucas Caron, a spokesman for Snowe and McKernan, said the couple were asked to lend their names to the event, even though they were uncertain they would be in attendance.  

“They were asked directly if they would have their names listed on that event and they said ‘yes,'” Caron said, adding, “It doesn’t look like they will be able to attend.”

Caron said it was similar to a private event held last summer for LePage, with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, when LePage first made his re-election intentions known.

He also said Snowe and McKernan have made it known since last August they would support LePage’s re-election bid. He said Snowe and LePage have a long history going back to her late husband, Peter Snowe, and his friendship with LePage. Caron said LePage also supported Snowe’s re-election bids in the past and she felt it was right to return that support.

The LePage event was announced Friday on the LePage’s campaign website and includes a long list of well-known Maine Republicans, including former ski industry magnate Les Otten and former state Senate President Kevin Raye.

Also on the list of hosts are former partners in the Oxford Casino, Jim Boldebook and Suzanne and Rupert Grover.

sthistle@sunjournal.com

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