Rivals Critical of Governor's Speech

Gov. John Baldacci's State of the State address amounted to an upbeat campaign speech filled with vague promises that can't be kept, according to several candidates who want to become Maine's chief executive. "It was a rah, rah for us speech," said Pat LaMarche, a Green party candidate who plans to be on the ballot in November and watched Wednesday's address on television from her home in Yarmouth.

"That's the beauty of a speech given without challenge in an election year," she said. "He can say whatever he wants. But people aren't listening that way any more. It's up to me and the other guys to provide better answers and better solutions."

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