(CNN) - What started as a media blitz to promote a new economic policy plan ended in a media headache for the Republican gubernatorial front-runner in Maine Monday.
Paul LePage – a conservative candidate who surprised many with his primary win in June – lashed out at reporters Monday after he was asked about allegations of his wife's tax problems.
At the last of three press conferences across the state, LePage angrily interrupted a reporter when he was asked about reports that his wife had improperly received property tax exemptions for homes in both Florida and Maine.
"Ok, let's stop the bulls-, and let's answer the questions the way they should be answered," he said, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
The outburst came just a few hours after a stop in Bangor where LePage had expressed his frustration with the barrage of questions he was receiving about his wife before storming out.
"I will tell you. This is what I'm going to say, and I will not bring this up again. I am running for governor. Not my wife. I want to talk about the billion dollar shortfalls we have. And if you guys want to do the Enquirer, I'm not playing," LePage said in video captured by WMTW.
The Bangor Daily News reports that LePage returned about two hours after the testy press conference to explain himself, telling the State House press corps that he is "overly protective" of his family.
LePage also told the Bangor Daily News that his wife splits her time between Maine and Florida, in part to help care for her mother, and she began receiving the Homestead exemption in both states due to an error that they are now working to fix.
LePage faces off against Democrat state Sen. Libby Mitchell in the general election.
From CNN Politics
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Hmm... Maybe she's just comparison shopping. Trying to decide which evil government check she'd rather give up...
Yeah whats wrong. Only little people pay taxes. Not Republican politician's wives.
Yes don't both wealthy millionaires with questions about cheating on their taxes. Just let those middle class people that actually pay their taxes deal with those kind of questions. Besides the Republicans like to give away special tax breaks to the wealthy.
An Angry RepubliCAN'T!! What else is new?
What happend to "taking responsibility"? Oh, yea, that too is only for the "little" people and never Republicans.
"I want to talk about the billion dollar shortfall we have" so forget about my wife's taxes. This man is a total idiot, WHO DOES HE THINKS PAYS THE TAXES FOR THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION THAT A SPOUSE SHARES.
Maybe Mr LePage and other candidates and Alaskan hustlers don't realize that "we the people" rely on the fourth estate- a free press, NOT Fox, to openly and honestly investigate people and issues for us.
Since we can't be there. And we expect answers.
Forget taking anything back. Just answer up, and we'll decide.
Silly reporter. Everyone knows Republicans are above the law. Only the little people have to follow the law.
Hey come on now !
Just because the woman he is married to, lives with, travels with, shares a bank account with, etc...just because she is the victim of an error DOES NOT mean he somehow benefits from it.
Is that what you're saying there Chief ?
Just making sure........
You do realize that he's not responsible for the reporter's spelling, right?
God help us if this was a democrat. Somehow nothing the Republicans do that's bad seems to resonate anymore. We've lost our pulse. It's like decades of Republican rule that has brought our deficits up by much more (check cbo.gov) and brings the middle class backward has totally left us with Stockholm syndrome ready to return to them to save us from the bad democrats who couldnt fix it fast enough in 18 months. Somehow they love us now and must have changed since the last time.
Gee, it looks like politicians on both sides of the aisle have tax troubles. Of course that won't start the teatards from listing only the Dem offenders.
He must have gotten his tax advice from Tim Geitner!
yea, only republicans...
Can you say "Charley Rangel"...
I knew you could....
enough with this...desperation is making you look childish Dems...
...
I don't think Florida is too happy about cases like this, especially if she's registered to vote in both states, too.
Oops! Open mouth – insert foot...
Tax cheating is only legal for the GOP.
What is being missed in this story is that the real crime here is his wife establishing residency in Florida to allow their daughter attend college in Florida at in-state tuition. The couple of thousand saved in real estate taxes is nothing compared to the tens of thousands saved in tuition. This guy manages a chain of surplus stores.