Flurry of Promises, Voter Apathy Mark Maine Campaign
PORTLAND, Maine ÛÓ Inflation and joblessness have sent the major Maine gubernatorial candidates scurrying to heap promise after promise on the voters to slash government spending, bring more jobs to the state</br></br>But the flurry of pledges seems to have fallen largely on deaf ears as many disenchanted voters here, as in other parts of the country, have shoved 1974 politics aside.</br></br>National Republicans viewed the Maine governorÛªs contest as one of the GOPÛªs few chances to recapture a state house, now held by two-term Democrat Kenneth</br></br>M.	Curtis, who under state law could not run again. But the Indifference to the race has left its outcome uncertain, and one independent poll, commissioned by the Bangor Daily News, shows the Democratic nominee, George J. Mitchell, ahead of Erwin by 7 per cent However, two out of every five voters are still listed as undecided.</br></br>The aversion to politics-as-usual has given rise here to what Erwin calls ÛÏplague-on-both-your-house^Û attitude by some voters toward the two party candidates. Onå© result has been the emergence of a strong independent candidate, wealthy insurance man James B. Long-ley, whose single-minded call for ending the stateÛªs spending excesses seems to be winning votes.