Andrew Adam has a point.

Political commentators, editorial writers, television reporters and even politicians decry the apathy of the American public, the staleness of the dragged-out election process and the rote, rehearsed, tip-toe campaign style of the major party candidates.

But when he, Andrew Adam, independent candidate for governor, wanted to appear in a Sept. 4 televised debate on a major Maine network, TV management said no. The station manager of WCSH (Channel 6) in Portland, which will feed coverage to Channel 2 in this part of Maine, offered to interview Adam sometime, but said the big-time video rumble would feature only the heavyweights: McKernan and Brennan.

Andrew Adam had 4,802 signatures on his petitions for governor, putting him on the state ballot, earning him a shot at the title and billing at any candidates’ debate.

By making it a threesome, TV-6 would clutter up an otherwise neat format. Adam, a long shot at best, indeed may distract from coverage of the headliners, but only if they wade in and mix it up.

This is America, however, the law says he is a legitimate contender, and his presence in the race cannot be rationalized away by a television network, or a newspaper or even his opposition.

The voters will take the measure of Andrew Adam’s candidacy on Nov. 6. But unless they reconsider their policy, neither Channel 6 nor Channel 2 will measure up as information outlets on Sept. 4. Given the experience of past candidates’ debates, which were as exciting as most Super Bowls, Adam might even help network ratings.