In the wake of an attack on him by Democrat Hannah Pingree, the GOP’s Bobby Charles is challenging her to a debate.
“If you and Janet Mills can take a break from your Trump bashing, I’ll debate you, 2 on 1, any day of the week,” Charles told Pingree on Monday.
Pingree over the weekend had gone after Charles, shown by polls to be leading the GOP gubernatorial field.
“This guy’s bigotry has no place in Maine politics,” she had said. “I’m sick of it and will wipe the floor with him in November if he makes it out of the Republican primary.”
Hers was a response to Charles posting on Facebook, “This is Maine, not Somalia. I will deport the illegals, ban Sharia law and work to block more resettlements.”
Charles, just 48 hours later posted a response to Pingree on his campaign site containing the debate offer.
“As a former U.S. Court of Appeals clerk, federal litigator & investigator, and an attorney who both practiced and taught constitutional law, I look forward to debating you on all the lawless policies that you and Janet Mills have forced on the Maine people,” he said.
Charles added, “This includes: sanctuary state status, fraudulent non profits, illegal aliens, and illegal drug traffickers at levels never before seen in Maine.”
The Maine Wire has reached out to Pingree to see whether she’ll accept the debate challenge.
A debate between only two of a wider field of contenders before their parties have chosen primary nominees can actually benefit either one or both of them.
Just two candidates debating can elevate the combatants above their respective party primary opponents.
The party nominees to be selected in the state’s June 9 primary will go head to head in the general election in a bid to succeed two-term-limited Democrat Gov. Janet Mills.
Mills has “endorsed” Pingree, although her backing came so late in the cycle it’s virtually meaningless, even more-so than statements of support typically are.
The debate challenge from Charles to include Mills alongside her former “policy director” on a debate stage helps him tie Pingree in voters’ eyes to the current administration’s performance.
Charles clearly believes he’s not only running against Pingree but against the Mills record.
Bobby Charles is the ONLY intelligent choice for the voters of Maine .
The democrats know this and will flood all the ballots with as many names as possible in order to facilitate their ranked choice voting scheme .
Maine WILL BE finally destroyed if another democrat governor is installed in Augusta .
Maine NEEDS a new direction in November .
Bobby Charles is that new direction .
Boy, he sure is impressed with himself. Smartest guy in the room, just ask him. A my way or the highway type of guy.