We asked the five candidates running for governor:

1. Is Dirigo a failure?

2. Should it be eliminated?

Here’s what they said:

Paul LePage, Republican: Yes. Yes.

Saying the Dirigo “experiment has failed, ” LePage said he would pursue an alternative program that would allow Maine to join other states to buy health insurance on the free market.

“We need to find an alternative for those insured by Dirigo and then repeal it,” he said.

Libby Mitchell, Democrat: No. No.

Mitchell, responding via e-mail, said, “The high cost of delivering health care has prevented Dirigo from living up to its potential” but has given “tens of thousands of Mainer’s the ability to see a doctor.” She added that the program positions Maine to “achieve universal access to affordable health care by transitioning to Health Insurance Exchanges.”

Eliot Cutler, independent: Yes. Yes.

Cutler highlighted problems with the program, but said the state was set up to take advantage of programs made available in the new national health care bill. He said he’d replace Dirigo with a more comprehensive health care program.

Shawn Moody, independent: Yes. Yes.

Moody said he’d scrap Dirigo after finding an alternative for those enrolled in the program. He favors joining other states to cooperatively buy health insurance and “allowing free-market principles to go to work.”

Kevin Scott: Yes. Yes.

Scott said he knew people who enrolled in Dirigo who thought the program was a failure. However, he said, the lessons learned from Dirigo set the stage for a more successful health care program.