PORTLAND — Independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler on Monday lashed out at Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic challenger Mike Michaud, accusing them of delaying debate appearances until after many absentee ballots are cast ahead of the November election.
Cutler said the majority of Maine residents want more debates and forums but LePage and Michaud and their parties are conspiring to limit debates and delay them until after voters are allowed to begin casting their tallies via absentee ballots 30 to 45 days before the election.
“The Democrats and the Republicans want the debates to come after people vote, a cynical and manipulative strategy that insults Maine voters and demeans the choice they have to make,” Cutler said at a news conference at Portland City Hall.
As it stands, the first debate would be Oct. 8.
In 2010, there were more than 30 debates and forums as LePage, Cutler and Democrat Libby Mitchell sought to lift their profiles in the battle for an open seat.
As of Monday, there were six debates in which Michaud, LePage and Cutler were committed to appear together. Complicating things, Michaud has said he won’t appear unless LePage appears, and LePage says he’s limited by his work schedule as governor.
Michaud’s spokeswoman, Lizzy Reinholt, said the 2014 campaign is different from the one four years ago because all the candidates are better known. She suggested six debates are plenty.
“That’s twice as many debates as we hold for president,” she said.
A LePage spokesman said the governor is “very much looking forward to debating liberals Eliot Cutler and Michael Michaud.”
Cutler, who’s trailing in polls, said that his opponents don’t want to talk about their records and that they’re doing a disservice to voters. He also said voters want to see candidates interact with each other and challenge each other on the issues and to evaluate leadership and management experience.
He said there’s no shortage of civic organizations that’d like to host such events.
“An election campaign ought to be about plans and issues, principles and personalities, alternatives and choices,” he said. “This isn’t an ‘American Idol’ contest. This is the 90-day interview for the CEO job in the largest and most complex organization in the state of Maine.”
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