LEWISTON – Left and right, coming together, a convergence of sorts over hot dogs.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chandler Woodcock was working the busy lunchtime crowd at Simones Hot Dogs in Lewiston on Wednesday when one of his opponents showed up.

Green Independent gubernatorial candidate Pat LaMarche walked in about 30 minutes after Woodcock.

The two exchanged a cordial greeting and effectively divided the small luncheonette into two parts.

Woodcock took the back room, while LaMarche worked the front. As the glad-handing continued, the two looked like dancers, aware of one another – almost carefully in tune – but separated by french fries, hot dogs and the crowd.

The meeting wasn’t planned.

LaMarche and Woodcock – along with Gov. John Baldacci, independent Barbara Merrill and independent Phillip NaPier – were on the road headed north to the University of Maine and Wednesday night’s Maine Public Broadcasting gubernatorial debate.

Simones, always busy for lunch, was shoulder-to-shoulder with patrons and the candidates’ political supporters. Woodcock, especially, was working a friendly room stacked with his backers.

LaMarche, undaunted, made her way around the lunch counter, booths and tables and didn’t shy away from people adorned with Woodcock paraphernalia. Woodcock, a state senator from Farmington, even signed a few autographs.

Simones has played a critical role in Maine politics for at least two generations. Its location in the heart of the Twin Cities – an important swing district and population center – makes it a tempting location politicians have a tough time avoiding.

“We’re really focusing on Lewiston and Auburn,” LaMarche said Wednesday. “The hard-working folks here hold sway in any statewide election.”

Way back when the gubernatorial election was in its infancy, Woodcock chose Simones to announce that he would seek the state’s highest office.

“It’s a tradition for candidates,” said Jimmy Simones, the restaurant’s owner. “For years when my dad had the restaurant, all the candidates would come by. They still do now that my son and I are running it.”

Wednesday’s chance encounter isn’t the only time two political heavyweights have ended up together at Simones.

Looking back in his guest book, Simones found the evidence.

During the 2004 presidential election, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, was in town campaigning at Simones when Maine U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe showed up.

“This is a good place to test the political waters,” Simones said. “We have an open soap box here. We don’t exclude anybody.”