AUGUSTA, Maine - President Obama will endorse Democratic state Sen. David Miramant, according to officials with the Maine Democratic Party.
The endorsement is part of the president's efforts to bolster Democrats' attempts nationwide to loosen Republican control of state legislatures.
Republicans currently have the majority in the Maine Senate, one of 68 chambers under GOP control nationwide.
Maine Democrats believe they can flip the Senate and Miramant's contest with Republican David Emery could be a key race in deciding the balance of power.
The president has endorsed more than 150 Democratic State House candidates so far. The president's political director, David Simas, recently told the New York Times that Obama plans to engage voters in state house contests like few presidents have before. Simas said the president is frustrated with Republican control of state legislatures unleashing a wave of legislation that affects labor unions, abortion rights and voting restrictions.
"Republican success in legislatures began in 2010 following a GOP wave election. At the time Republicans only controlled 36 chambers, but they have nearly doubled that number since then. Democrats hope that the presidential contest will assist their efforts to reverse the trend. While national pundits have suggested that Republican hopeful Donald Trump's apparent dive in the polls will affect congressional contests, Democrats hope voters will record their dissatisfaction with him and Republicans deeper down the ticket to state house races."
So far Obama has used recorded telephone calls to reach voters in the targeted districts.
