Gov. John Baldacci said this week he hopes the new president — he’s pulling for Sen. Hillary Clinton — pays attention to domestic matters when he or she takes office.

“I think a lot of what we’re facing here in Maine and around the country comes from Washington,” he said in a year-end sit down interview with the Kennebec Journal. “The focus needs to be on domestic issues, on education, health care and getting our domestic economy going again.”

Baldacci named Clinton’s experience as his top reason for backing her, although he said he knows John Edwards and Bill Richardson well.

“She’s been there,” he said. “Nobody wrestled health care more than she did. I think you need to recognize our country needs universal health care.”

Baldacci said he’s prepared to stump for the Democratic nominee if asked — regardless of who wins the primary.