Susan Collins bucks trend as an incumbent pushing for more debates

Four debates on the table, and the challenger hasn't signed up for a single one. That's the part of this story worth sitting with. Usually it's the incumbent ducking the stage, hiding behind name recognition and a fundraising edge, letting the clock run out on anyone who wants a real airing of the issues. Collins is doing the opposite. Whatever you think of her voting record, she's not afraid to stand next to Troy Jackson in front of Maine voters and answer questions live, without a script.

Jackson entered the race late, so maybe his campaign just hasn't gotten its footing yet. Fine. But there's a difference between "not yet" and "not agreed to any," and voters notice which one it is. If you're asking Mainers to fire a four-term senator, the least you owe them is a chance to see you make the case yourself, not through press releases and surrogates.

Debates aren't some quaint formality. They're one of the few moments left in a campaign that isn't fully controlled by consultants and ad buys. A candidate who avoids them is usually avoiding something else too, whether that's a shaky grasp of policy or a record that doesn't hold up under questioning.

We'll withhold judgment on Jackson until the fall gets closer. But right now, the senator everyone loves to paint as cautious and poll-tested is the one showing up, and the newcomer running on change is the one who's gone quiet. That's a strange way to introduce yourself to voters..