How dare Olympia Snowe accuse Mark Lawrence, her opponent in the race for U.S. Senate, of “half-truths and negative tactics that have so far defined my opponent’s entire candidacy.” (BDN, May 8) These are the very tactics Sen. Snowe has always used in her campaigns — strike early to accuse your opponent of something he hasn’t done and then keep pressing the Big Lie.

Lawrence’s “entire candidacy” has just begun, and he is an honorable, fair candidate who has not and will not go negative, despite his opponent’s provocative statements. He will discuss the issues in this election, and try to run an enlightened campaign and stimulate intelligent discourse.

Let us hope that, finally in this election, Sen. Snowe does not follow the instructions of her extreme right-wing GOP leadership in the Senate, but will discuss her record and the issues without the hypocrisy that has marked her past campaigns. Tom Schroth Sedgwick