AUGUSTA, Maine — During an afternoon appearance Tuesday on a conservative talk radio show, Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage said he may run for the U.S. Senate in 2018.

LePage made the comment during an appearance on the Boston-based “ Howie Carr Show,” which was broadcasting from Maine on Tuesday afternoon.





LePage said specifically he was thinking about challenging U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent and former two-term governor, because King caucuses with Democrats in Washington.

“I’m thinking about it very strongly,” LePage said during the hour-long segment.

LePage also shared several predictions for the 2016 presidential elections, noting the three frontrunners today were unlikely to be their parties’ chosen candidates.

Carr arrived in Augusta by private jet with Ernie Boch Jr., a Massachusetts auto dealer who also was a guest on Tuesday’s show. Both men were scheduled to dine with LePage at the Blaine House on Tuesday.

During the broadcast, LePage had some political advice for front-running Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, including a suggestion Trump abandon his Twitter account. The governor said his chief of staff, John McGough, has advised him that nothing good can come from a Twitter account.

LePage, who sported a Trump campaign cap for a photo, also reaffirmed he was supporting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential campaign.

LePage said he liked Trump’s candor and his unscripted, politically incorrect statements but also warned that Trump should focus less on insults and more on policy.

“Insulting works, but you’ve got to have some substance behind it,” LePage said. “He needs to learn to get onto the policies he is going to bring to the American people.”

In another surprising comment, LePage complimented Rhode Island’s Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo, saying he has working closely with her on energy issues. “She’s in it for the right reasons,” LePage said. “She’s a very bright lady.”