Maddow and Baldacci Talk Question 1

Maine governor John Baldacci appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show on Thursday to discuss this Tuesday's vote on Question 1, which current polls show remains too close to call. The governor, who opposes the ballot initiative to repeal his state's gay marriage law, declined the invitation to make any outright predictions about the fate of Question 1.

"Same-sex marriage ballot measures are 0 for 30 right now," said Maddow in her introduction. "The question is, Could Maine break that losing streak?"

She pressed the governor to say whether he was confident of defeating the measure, and asked what backup plan might be on order should Question 1 succeed. Baldacci seemed to avoid a direct response.

"I think the way I approach this, Rachel, is that we conduct the campaign well," said Baldacci. "We've been able to get a lot of information and education out to people about a very difficult issue for some people, an emotional issue for some people to grapple with. So I think we've made a lot of inroads. So I think whatever the results are, I'm very pleased of the efforts and the ability of a lot of people to be able to look inside themselves and realize that it's only an issue of fairness, it's an issue of equal protection, and in our state, we depend upon each other to be there in a pinch, and I think Maine people will be there for each other on election night."

A Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll released Thursday showed the No on 1 campaign leading within the margin of error at 48%, compared to 47% who support Question 1. Five percent of respondents were undecided.