With a Republican, a Democrat and three independent candidates struggling to be elected governor, the Maine politician who needs the thickest skin is the incumbent.

Gov. John Baldacci can’t expect many kind words from a field that includes several who are pledging to unravel his policies. It’s a season when even his friends aren’t likely to offer more than faint praise.

So the governor was entitled to point out this weekend that Maine has not fared worse than other states since the meltdown of 2008. Prodded by necessity, the state has taken steps to reduce the cost of government and Maine’s tax burden.

The Baldacci administration has had its share of missteps, but it has not spent excessively. As the governor put it in his weekly address, the state budget for 2010 is the same as it was in 2001. Looking at the numbers a different way, the Maine Center for Economic Policy estimates that general fund appropriations, adjusted for inflation, are lower than they were in 1999.

Holding the line on spending became essential as state sales tax revenues began dropping due to the recession. The governor and Legislature ruled out an increase in the income tax and instead cut spending and staff.

Like everyone else, we hope the next administration will eventually be able to count on a better economy than the incumbent governor has faced in the last two years.

Better economic conditions will ease a lot of Maine’s problems and ”“ we hope ”“ will enable the next governor to brag about how she, or he, “turned things around.”

— Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.