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Allen wants 2008 Senate race to focus on issues
By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Friday, June 01, 2007

AUGUSTA -- U.S. Rep. Tom Allen continued his campaign swing through Maine Thursday with stops in Waterville and Augusta, where he talked about his hope for an issues-based contest against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

Last month, Allen, a Portland Democrat, announced he will challenge Collins, a Caribou Republican, for the Senate seat in November 2008.

"A choice between two good people, experienced people, who are running for the United States Senate shouldn't be bad for any state or any democracy," he said.

Allen spent an hour with editors at the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel to lay out his reasons for making a Senate bid. On May 9, Allen announced his campaign on his Web site, followed by a tour through the state this week that took him to Fort Kent, Bangor, Ellsworth and other places.

Although people are concerned about the war in Iraq and health care, Allen said he's hearing a lot about gas prices.

"The last four days I've been traveling around, gas prices are at the top of the list," he said. "For people who are on the edge financially anyway, that is a major problem."

Allen, who's served 10 years in the House, said he hopes voters will compare his record on Iraq, energy policy, health care and tax cuts with Collins record on those same issues. Collins was first elected to the Senate in 1996.

With both having served in Washington, it will be easy to compare their votes on the issues, he said.

Allen said the race, which has been pegged as a top-tier national contest, will draw money from outside sources that neither he nor Collins can control. He estimated that millions of dollars will be spent on the race, though he didn't think it would be "tens of millions."

Although he's critical of the Bush administration, Allen said efforts to try to impeach the president and vice president are not worth pursuing.

Earlier this week, a group of Maine residents presented 11,000 signatures to the Maine Legislature in hopes that it would pass a resolution asking Congress to impeach President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

"I understand the frustration," he said. "But you only have so much time and resources in the Congress."

Allen said health care -- how to make it accessible and affordable -- should be the top domestic issue in Washington. And he believes the United States must set a deadline for pulling out of Iraq.

Differences on the economy and the war will likely be the two major topics of the campaign, he said.

"I don't want to campaign on labels," he said. "We have a record on both sides now. We ought to be talking about that record and what we think is right for the future."

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com


Reader comments

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Larry of Winslow, ME
Jun 6, 2007 11:33 AM
Hey Dana, just because Tom Allen has been on the public dole all his life doesn't mean he has done a good job. The "Labor" that you speak of would that by any chance be the same "Labor" Tom abandoned when he left the Armed Services Committee to accomplish NOTHING on the Commerce Committee? Because if it is Tom and his penquin are badly misreading the tea leaves. Tom may get some token support from labor functionaries but the membership knows it has been Senator Collins that has saved their bacon. Another example every few months Tom releases a press release that he has put in for money for Camp Ellis, problem is it never gets funded. Collins on the other hand has actually delivered money for Camp Ellis, not just talked about it like Tom. Tom has no clout in congress. Tom is Mr. Irrelevant. He ALWAYS toes the party line so they have no reason to dangle a carrot in front of him. When he actually even bothers to show up to vote that is. Boy Tom must really love the lobbyist's free air fare and jumbo shrimp. He has really blown his chance to be somebody and actually accomplish something. Here's a few hints for you, whenever anyone like Tom Allen has to say he's "working hard for you." He really isn't because if he was you would already know it. Here's another test, can you name one (1) piece of legislation Tom has passed in his 6 terms of Congress, not something someone else did and Tom signed onto, something Tom Allen wrote and actually passed. There is nothing. Mike Michuad by contrast has over 20 in just 2 terms. That says it all right there. Tom should have done less jetsetting and gotten down to business. Sorry to disappoint you Dana, but Collins will be re-elected by a very wide margin and Tom Allen will be tossed on the democratic scrap heap with Joe Brennan where he belongs. Don't blame me Dana, I'm just the messenger, Tom Allen's malingering has finally caught up to him. That's a very good thing for Maine. It really is.
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Larry of Winslow, ME
Jun 6, 2007 11:18 AM
Allen has missed over 100 votes and to date Senator Collins has NEVER missed a vote. Tom Allen recently missed a vote to authorize funding for Maine's Police then showed up after the vote and put in the Congressional Record that he meant to vote for it. Lame and inexcusable. Tom has missed votes to attend weddings and to attend a Major League Baseball All Star game. Again check the Congressional Record. Now that's all nice and well if there isn't work to be done that he signed on to do but I'm sure if any of the brave young men and women serving in our miltary wanted to do likewise their request would be denied, why because they took an oath to put duty before personal niceties. A similar oath to the one Tom Allen took when he became a Congressman. Tom Allen doesn't know the meaning of duty, honor, country. There's no Republican spin needed here EMainer. Tom Allen has been a pathetic Pelosi lapdog for too long. Don't drink the kool aid. Tom Allen doesn't even come close to measuring up to the "Junior" Democratic Congressman from Maine Mike Michuad, now Mike might have had a chance against Collins, but Tom is toast in this race and I think that's why it took so long to announce. Tom knows he can't win. Tom even looks defeated and scared of Collins. This race is over before it starts.

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EMainer of Fairfield, ME
Jun 6, 2007 8:16 AM
Some just don't get it! Allen is a far better candidate than Collins who has demonstrated her weaknesses every time there is a critical issue. Allen has never missed a vote which was critical to Mainers. The only votes missed were those scheduled at a time it was critical his focus and attendance was here in Maine. If you want to send someone to Washington whose only concerns are the party line then I guess you have a candidate in Collins. If you want a Senator who puts Mainers first vote for Tom Allen. Mainers never get it. You have to read and pay attention everyday to know who is getting the job done. If you base your comments and opinion on "Republican spin" I would imagaine your other source of news is your CB Radio.report abuse
Dana Graham of Augusta, ME
Jun 5, 2007 8:33 PM
Tom Allen has dedicated his life to the working people of this state. The congressman will be the next US Senator from Maine. Labor will be out in force to see that he is elected. What has Susan done for Maine?????? Nothing but a puppet for the Bush Administration. Tom will run a good clean campaign and focus on the issues.report abuse

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