Maine continues to show it's strong Clean Elections system in action, as four independent candidates for Governor join the Democratic, Republican and Green candidates on the ballot - three of the four independents are working to qualify for public financing.

Mark Brewer, a political scientist, is quoted on the importance of the system particularly to independents: "'It is absolutely essential for any of the independents running to qualify for Clean Election money [. . .] [n]one are independently wealthy, as far as I know, and it's unlikely any of them would be able to raise a significant amount of money.'"