Delegation ready to watch presidential debate

WASHINGTON – While thousands of voters across Maine watch the first presidential debate from their homes tonight, members of Maine’s congressional delegation also will be camping out in front of their TVs in the nation’s capital.

Months of negative ads and accusations will come to a head live from Coral Gables, Fla., when President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry take the stage.

“They’ll both be pretty aggressive,” predicted Democratic Rep. Tom Allen. “I expect a frank debate.”

This first of three scheduled debates, which will take place at the University of Miami beginning at 9 p.m., will focus on foreign policy.

Allen said this will be Kerry’s opportunity to contrast what Bush has said about the “war on terror” with what Allen called a much different reality. “They really took their eye off the al-Qaida ball,” he said. His advice for Bush: “Get real” and don’t sugarcoat things.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins said that regardless of what happens, it will be a good opportunity for a spirited debate. But her money was on Bush. “In the past, I’ve thought that George Bush came out the better in these debates,” she said. “He surprised a lot of people four years ago when he bested Al Gore.”

Despite the fact that both candidates are fighting over what appears to be a relatively small number of voters who haven’t already decided who to support, Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe said the debate still has great potential to change people’s minds.

“Both candidates are going to be very conscious of the potential for being able to influence large segments of the voters,” she said. “I think that something could easily change based on a comment or an approach or an attitude or demeanor – whatever might strike people.”

Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud said that one criticism people have had of John Kerry is that he hasn’t been forceful enough in responding to his critics. The first debate, he said, is his chance to do so. He should “be honest and upfront with the American people” and not be afraid to be aggressive about telling people where he’s coming from, Michaud said.

Michael Barone, a political commentator for Fox News, said in an interview Wednesday that the debate presents challenges for both candidates.

“You’ve got to sound human, not arrogant,” he said. “You’ve got to attack, but you’ve got to be likable. I think it’s a tough requirement.”