Republican Senator Susan Collins demanded an apology from Democratic challenger Troy Jackson during Thursday night's Senate debate after Jackson accused her of benefiting financially from the war in Iran, marking the sharpest exchange in a debate dominated by allegations of corruption, arguments over energy prices and disagreements about President Donald Trump. "That is absolutely outrageous, and you owe me an apology," Collins, a five-term senator, said. Jackson did not retreat from the accusation, instead arguing that Collins votes with Trump too often and accused her of being influenced by corporate interests and defense contractors.
The debate was the second this week between the candidates competing for Maine's U.S. Senate seat, just two days after their first encounter, where Jackson drew attention for his now-viral "You can't eat rock salt" attack on Collins' support for increased domestic energy production. Abortion rights produced one of the night's most pointed policy confrontations.
Jackson again faulted Collins for supporting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, arguing that his confirmation helped pave the way for the overturning of Roe v. Collins countered by saying she helped write legislation establishing federal abortion protections. "Not only would I vote for it, I authored such a bill," Collins said of a measure that would codify Roe nationwide.
The incumbent then turned the issue back on Jackson, pointing to what she described as his long anti-abortion voting record before entering federal politics. Jackson acknowledged he had previously voted differently. "Was I voting the wrong way?
Yeah, and I've said that consistently," he said. Collins then accused Jackson of wanting to pack the Supreme Court, to which Collins said he wouldn't need to if she hadn't voted for Kavanaugh. The candidates spent most of the Thursday debate sparring over rising energy costs and home heating concerns, a major issue in Maine.
Jackson repeatedly argued that Mainers' soaring heating costs stem from the conflict with Iran and accused Collins of failing to use her influence to stop it. "We have to get out of Iran. Everything points to the Iran war that is driving these fuel prices in an insane direction," he said.
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