AUGUSTA – The Democratic Governors Association and Republican Governors Association have decided to air television advertisements in Maine

The DGA ad, which is focused on Republican gubernatorial nominee Paul LePage’s stance on energy, is considered an issue ad. It began airing Wednesday morning. It shows scenic images of Maine then dramatically superimposes a nuclear power plant in one scene and an oil rig in another, citing LePage’s support of nuclear power and oil drilling off the Maine coast.

“And he’d make the state Department of Environmental Protection friendlier to the developers and polluters,” a female announcer says near the end of the 30 second spot. “Tell Paul LePage his pro-nuke, pro-drilling policies are wrong for Maine.”

The RGA filed an independent expenditure report with the Maine ethics commission on Tuesday for $38,000. According to the record, the money was spent on television advertising. The ad, which includes a short biography of LePage’s life and highlights his fiscally conservative record, was also launched Wednesday.

The DGA and RGA are national groups that do not participate in every gubernatorial race in the country, typically they only spend money in close races.

Five candidates are running for governor in Maine, including LePage, Democratic nominee Libby Mitchell and independent candidates Eliot Cutler, Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott.

The most recent poll, released on Wednesday, shows LePage leading the field with about 43 percent of the vote.

This post was updated from an earlier version.

Rebekah Metzler – 620-7016

rmetzler@mainetoday.com