LEWISTON – Long-shot Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Ledue, a former administrator at Noble High School, accepted three invitations extended by local television and radio stations to participate in two debates and one candidate forum alongside his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen.

Allen, who serves in Congress representing Maine’s 1st District, declined all three events, citing scheduling conflicts.

Ledue said Allen’s campaign decision is disappointing, but not surprising.

“(Allen) is following contemporary political wisdom, which is one of the reasons we need new blood in Washington,” Ledue said. “I’m sure that his people are saying that he has nothing to gain by going to the only place where the playing field is level here … So I understand, and I don’t take it personally.”

Carol Andrews, Allen’s campaign spokeswoman, said the congressman simply has no time to debate Ledue.

“We had a few people ask us to do them but every date they gave us, we’re in Washington voting,” Andrews said. “We have a hectic campaign schedule and we have no time. And, frankly, we are focused on the fall.”

Chris Potholm, Bowdoin College professor and a well-known Maine political consultant, said he was surprised by Allen’s decision to decline even one debate.

“Typically when you are ahead of your opponent, you don’t want to debate eight or 10 times or whatever,” Potholm said. “But what is truly unusual, and I don’t understand it, is Tom Allen’s unwillingness to debate (Ledue) even on public television. That is, in my experience, unique.”

Potholm said it would be easy for Allen to participate in one event and use it to drive home his general election points, but by not engaging his primary opponent at all, he’s raising questions.

“It just sort of reeks of vulnerability,” he said. “I remember (former U.S. Sen.) Bill Cohen; he debated in the general election against some guy getting 4 percent of the vote. And of course (Cohen) went on the public television. That’s what public television is supposed to be about.”

Karl Trautman, a professor at Central Maine Community College and the social sciences department chairman, agreed.

“By all accounts (Allen) is going to win the primary anyway, hands down,” Trautman said. “I don’t know what could go wrong in a primary debate. Participating in one or two debates could be seen as quite reasonable.”

All three stations have decided to commit the offered time to Ledue anyway. On May 22, Ledue will appear on MPBN at 8 p.m.; on May 27, he will be on WGAN’s Maine Points program at 8 a.m. participating in a one-man debate; and on June 6 he will be the sole participant on WCSH’s candidate forum at 6 p.m.

And Ledue can certainly use all the free publicity he can get.

The candidate is facing a significant deficit in campaign cash compared to Allen. Ledue has about $3,500 cash on hand, even after loaning his own campaign more than $20,000, according to his latest Federal Election Commission filing. Allen has more than $2.5 million cash on hand, according to his latest FEC report.

The winner will move on to the general election battle against the incumbent, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican.

Despite the challenges, Ledue continues to look forward.

“It’s very important in our campaign that we be positive and we look up,” Ledue said. “People tire of tit-for-tat. (Allen’s) made a decision and I understand that, I wish it were different, but I’m not missing a step over it.”

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