Speaking of baseball, Maine’s rules for political races should mimic the National Pastime.

Once out of the game, there’s no coming back.

Corey Troup is the erstwhile Republican candidate for Senate District 16. Troup left the race July 10 and returned July 28, after a more preferable candidate declined to replace him. He has neither fundraised nor appeared at political events, like the state Republican convention.

Changing candidates is allowed, for good reason. There are occasions where they must be replaced, whether for illness, change of heart or some other practical reason that precludes their candidacy.

Running is a choice, not an obligation.

But this practice is questionable in cases like Troup, whose campaign is non-existent. It seems appropriate, as in baseball, to say once a candidate has dropped out, they cannot re-enter.

Voters need candidates who want the job they seek. Floating in-and-out of races runs counter to this notion. If a candidate wins their race, their constituency will expect them to be committed to its needs.

So it’s okay to expect candidates to be committed to their campaign, first.