Anyways, why is the poll surprising? This is a state that elected Paul LePage twice. Maine is a weird place.
Maine is basically the Montana of New England in that it is often stereotyped as a solid blue state where only moderate/liberal Republicans can win in good years.
TBF hard right-wingers have not won here in good Democrat years ever since the state stopped being a the geographical arm of the Republican Party in the 1950s.
In fact, I'd argue that, relative to the nation at the time, LePage might be the most right-wing person elected in Maine since the end of World War II.
Fair enough, I just find this forum's weird notion that ME is basically just a slightly more Republican version of VT bordered by a libertarian, conservative, independent, swingy, ultra-competitive paradise ridiculously absurd and simplistic.