Allen refuses debate with primary opponent
By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com ReporterU.S. Rep. Tom Allen has refused to two debates with primary challenger Tom Ledue.
Allen and Ledue are both running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. The winner will challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November.
Allen, the well-known candidate, has been campaigning since last year. Ledue, the long shot candidate, jumped in the race in January.
Ledue said he is running to encourage conversations that Allen wasn’t bringing up.
“Why would Tom Allen decline a chance to speak out for his positions on the issues that are impacting Mainers? Has he decided that his middle-class rallying cry is as non-inspiring to him as it is to the rest of Maine? Or that over 1/3rd of Maine is in or on the edge of poverty and more are heading that way and he is not offering them any reason to hope? Or that his record of inaction in Washington will be too embarrassing to face publicly?” the Ledue campaign wrote in a blog post.
Allen has not acknowledged Ledue’s challenge, instead focusing all resources on the November election. The campaign told the Associated Press that Allen was unable to debate because of scheduling conflicts.
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I don't have a dog in this
I don't have a dog in this fight but I think it rather cowardly- and arrogant- that incumbent candidates like Tom Allen never want to face their lesser known opponents. As with so many politicians, Tom Allen's words don't match his record and to think that he will answer only to Collins on the issues that impact Maine people is simply embarrassing for Maine Democrats. It seems Allen has a sense of entitlement about this nomination. Of course, as a Congressman, no one could rightly prefer a candidate like educator Tom Ledue. Right?
Let the people hear from each candidate, weigh their options in light of current events, and then let the chips fall where they may.
Why did Allen not propose an alternate date?
What do reasonable people do when a "scheduling conflict" prevents them from doing something they want to do, or feel is worthwhile?
They propose an alternate date and time, and then work hard to find a time that works for all involved.
Why did Tom Allen not do that? What conclusions should we draw from that?
Perhaps Tom Ledue should issue a challenge to debate him anytime, any place -- even if it's in Washington DC some evening after the House of Representatives concludes business for the day.
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