AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER Maine) - A Thursday interview with Governor LePage is going 'Maine viral' - but not for what was said in the interview, but how it ended.
The Governor was talking to reporters about the closing of the Downeast Correctional Facility when a Southern Maine blogger, Carol McCracken, joined in on the interview.
McCracken runs the Portland blog, "Munjoy Hill News."
McCracken was taking digital photos of the Governor while chewing a chicken salad sandwich that, according to the Governor's spokesperson, she had taken from a buffet meant for legislators.
Governor LePage appeared bothered by McCracken's voracious chewing style. He abruptly stopped speaking, turned to her, appeared to gently push her, and asked her to back away. "You're eating in my face!" he said as he wiped the food off his cheek. He then ended the interview and walked away.
McCracken claims in her blog post that the Governor followed his remark with a "shove on the shoulder." She says she was "just an easy target for this bully."
LePage's spokesperson Julie Rabinowitz, however, says McCracken "aggressively pushed her way into the Governor’s personal space, and took several flash photos just inches from his eyes."
Rabinowitz says the blogger was taking advantage of a buffet intended for legislators, and that she "was chewing with an open mouth. Chicken salad flew from her mouth, spraying the Governor with bits of food in his face."
"After the Governor wiped off bits of her sandwich, she spoke rudely and aggressively to his staff," Rabinowitz continued in an email. "So a security officer came to talk to her, and she was still eating the sandwich, and food from her mouth flew onto the officer as well."
The incident cause quite the reaction from members of the Maine media online.
Michael Shepherd of the Bangor Daily News called it the "dumbest thing" he's seen in Maine politics.
Progressive blogger Mike Tipping agreed, writing:
Former NEWS CENTER Maine reporter Sarah DeLage tweeted saying it was her "favorite [Maine politics] story ever.
The Governor's spokesperson described the encounter as "awkward and uncomfortable." She said no harm was intended by the Governor.