Augusta, Maine — New Bangor Daily News reporting makes one thing clear: if Republicans nominate Bobby Charles, they may spend the rest of the year trying to clean up their own mess.

After every candidate on the debate stage refused to commit to supporting Charles if he became the nominee, Republicans are still publicly hedging on whether they’d join his campaign at all.

The reporting highlights the “concern among some candidates and party members about Charles’ style and electability” and sharp criticism around “Charles for months over his aggressive budget cut proposals.”

It’s no surprise that Charles would face an uphill battle if he’s the nominee. Throughout the campaign, several GOP candidates repeatedly went after him. Republicans can try to paper over the cracks in a few months, but their own candidates have already said the quiet part out loud: they don’t think Bobby Charles can win.

Bangor Daily News: Maine GOP gubernatorial candidates may skip party’s unity breakfast if Bobby Charles wins

Benjamin Kail, June 16

• Following the state’s ranked-choice tally, the Maine GOP is hosting a unity breakfast at Maple Hill Farm & Inn in Hallowell on Saturday.

• Some party members and a few of Charles’ opponents, none of whom raised their hands when asked during a May debate if they’d back him as the nominee, may skip the event or are waiting out a decision until the final votes are tallied.

• Former fitness executive Ben Midgley and entrepreneur Jonathan Bush are effectively tied for second at about 20% in the first round of voting.

• “If it’s Midgley or Bush, we’ll be there 150%,” said Lauren Jones, a spokesperson for real estate executive David Jones, who notched 3% support. “If it’s Bobby, it’s going to take a conversation.”

• Another Republican source familiar with discussions around the unity breakfast said they wouldn’t be surprised if three or four of the candidates don’t turn up to the event, which was scheduled long before primary night.

• They described the concern among some candidates and party members about Charles’ style and electability as a bad look for the former federal official. He faces tough headwinds in a Democratic-leaning state while President Donald Trump’s approval rating lags and the GOP scrambles to keep control of Congress and take the Blaine House.

• Multiple candidates did not respond to requests for comment.

• Several have criticized Charles for months over his aggressive budget cut proposals and what they described as negative or unethical campaigning.

• Former state Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason in a recent statement encouraged voters to back Republicans at the state and federal level, including five-term U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, but he did not make an endorsement in the governor’s race. Mason received 11.3% of the vote.