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Immigration debate roils politics in … Maine?

Maine Gov. Paul LePage speaks to the media at a homeless shelter Monday, July 28, 2014, in Lewiston, Maine. LePage, the governor of the state with the largest percentage of white people, placed thousands of miles from the southern border, has thrust the issue of immigration to the forefront with his criticism over the federal government's placement of eight immigrants in the state. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Maine Gov. Paul LePage speaks to the media at a homeless shelter Monday, July 28, 2014, in Lewiston, Maine. LePage, the governor of the state with the largest percentage of white people, placed thousands of miles from the southern border, has thrust the issue of immigration to the forefront with his criticism over the federal government's placement of eight immigrants in the state. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

By Associated Press July 29, 2014 1 min read

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) – The debate over immigration is quickly becoming a central issue in one of the nation’s most closely watched governor’s races – in Maine.

Maine is the nation’s whitest state, and its residents have a reputation for being insular. But they have also embraced the need for immigrants as the state’s population ages and declines.

So Republican Gov. Paul LePage roiled the cultural waters when he criticized the federal government’s placement of eight immigrant children in Maine without advising him.

LePage’s re-election campaign has attacked his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (mih-SHAWD’), for not taking a clear stand on whether he would agree to shelter children in Maine.

But Michaud’s campaign said last week that LePage is using the issue merely to rally his political base.