AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine Gov. Paul LePage has tweeted that reports of his "political demise are greatly exaggerated.''
The Republican governor made the comment Tuesday, hours after he said on a radio show that he was going to meet with family and close advisers to decide his next steps amid calls for his resignation following an obscene voicemail message he left for a Democratic lawmaker.
"It's not about me, it's about Maine people and if I've lost my ability to convince the Maine people that's what we need and that's the type of people we need in Augusta, then maybe it is time to move on," the governor said.
Speaking on WVOM-FM radio, LePage said that his tirade was "unacceptable and totally my fault."Gov. Paul LePage appearing on Bangor radio station WVOM August 30, 2016.
LePage spent 90 minutes Monday night meeting behind closed doors with Republican legislative leaders. Afterward, they said LePage planned to meet with family and friends and announce a "corrective action."
On WVOM this morning, the governor again apologized, saying he was wrong to lose his temper in that now infamous voicemail to Westbrook Democratic Rep. Drew Gattine. He apologized to Mainers, to Drew Gattine’s family and to his own family for his actions.
LePage also told the radio hosts that his family has borne the brunt of angry and pornographic emails following his outburst.
Democratic legislative leaders have called on LePage to resign. At a rally planned for this evening at Capital Park in Augusta, attendees are expected to do the same.
If LePage should leave office, state Senate President Mike Thibodeau, a Republican, would become governor.
Meanwhile, LePage says he will not hold a public a town hall meeting as planned in Gattine's hometown of Westbrook.
The governor had planned to hold the event Wednesday evening, but it's been canceled. The board of the teen center where LePage wanted to hold the event voted to cancel it, citing space concerns.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Copyright 2016 Maine Public
