Allen’s debate proposal initiates criticism from Hoffman, Collins

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Herb Hoffman would have gladly attended the town hall meetings proposed by Democratic candidate Tom Allen, his campaign said today.

Allen had proposed four meetings in Maine’s smaller communities to talk about issues in this election. Collins declined, citing a full campaign schedule.

When asked about Hoffman, Allen’s Spokeswoman Carol Andrews told PolitickerME Tuesday, “We are running against Susan Collins so we invited her.”

She elaborated today: "We simply invited Susan Collins to join us in a traditional town hall setting, not a debate, because we believe Mainers want and deserve a candid conversation on the issues. Apparently that invitation was upsetting to her and her staff. That was not our intent."

An e-mail from the Hoffman campaign read:

Hoffman Campaign Manager Lynn Ellis then called Allen Campaign Manager Valerie Martin to say that Hoffman was available for all four of the August dates Allen had suggested. She said Hoffman would be happy to attend with Allen. But Ellis said Martin told her that the meetings had already been cancelled due to Sen. Collin's unavailability.

Hoffman noted that he, too, is running against Susan Collins. And he added he was also at the Potato Blossom Festival in Fort Fairfield over the weekend.

"I met Sen. Collins at the Potato Industry Dinner," Hoffman said, "and we talked for about five minutes. It was a pleasant conversation."

Hoffman said he agreed with Allen that Mainers deserve to hear what the candidates have to say, and thus "I can't understand why Rep. Allen seems to be unwilling to be on the same platform with me, whether in a debate or town meeting format. Like Sen. Collins, I'm looking forward to participating in the debates scheduled after Labor Day and introducing issues into the debate that the voters of Maine will otherwise not hear."

Collins’ campaign said it is disingenuous of the Allen campaign to criticize them for not wanting to debate, when Allen himself declined a number of debates with primary opponent Tom Ledue.

“Now, Congressman Allen says he welcomes a full debate, yet at the same time, he and the Maine Democratic Party are suing to silence the Independent candidate in this race by having him removed from the ballot,” wrote Kevin Kelley, Collins’ spokesman, in a statement. "While Tom Allen was in Portland holding a political press conference, Senator Collins was in Washington, DC holding an important hearing to try and find solutions to the current energy crisis.”

Andrews responded: "It is frankly very telling that Susan Collins believes everything is going along so well for the people of Maine. It shows that she is very clearly out of touch with the harsh realities of the economic, energy and health care crises she helped George Bush inflict upon Maine families.

"We weren't running against Tom Ledue. We are running against Susan Collins and for change for Maine and America. The town halls we have proposed would not be in conflict with congressional duties as they would be during the August recess."