Troy Jackson says he won't apologize for telling Collins 'shut up'
Maine Democrat Troy Jackson said Sunday that he does not regret telling Republican Senator Susan Collins to "shut up" at their last debate. He spoke on CNN after Collins had said a protester at the debate was one of his backers. Collins has called his quick reply "very telling."
Maine Democrat Troy Jackson said Sunday that he does not regret telling Republican Senator Susan Collins to "shut up" during their final Senate debate, The Associated Press and the Washington Examiner reported. He spoke in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."
At the debate in Bangor on Thursday night, a protester opposed to data centers began yelling as Collins spoke. Collins said the protester was "obviously one of Troy's supporters," and Jackson replied, "Oh, shut up. I don't even know that kid," the AP reported.
Asked on CNN whether he regretted the remark, Jackson said no, the Examiner reported. "She said that it was a Troy supporter. I mean, she accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was," he said, according to the Examiner.
Jackson said he had shaken Collins' hand after each of their four debates, the AP and the Examiner reported. "But what I'm not going to be is talked down to by Sen. Collins," he said. He added that he was "not going to apologize for that."
The Sunrise Movement, a left-wing climate group, said on Instagram that the protester was one of its volunteers, the AP reported. The AP, citing The New York Times, said the protester said in an interview with the Times that there was "zero coordination" with Jackson's campaign.
Collins said on Fox News on Friday that "the fact that it seemed like such an automatic, quick reply was very telling," the AP reported. She pointed to what she called his "reputation" in the Legislature when dealing with women he disagrees with.
Republican ads have said Jackson was rude to female colleagues in the state Legislature, the Examiner reported. Jackson said on CNN that Republicans have spent millions "attacking me and my family, making untrue claims," the AP and the Examiner reported.
The race is closely contested ahead of the November 3 election, the AP reported. A RealClearPolitics polling average from September 23 to October 14 showed Jackson with a lead of less than 2 points, the Examiner reported.
What we know: Jackson said on CNN that he will not apologize for the remark.
What we don't: Whether the exchange will shift voters in the close race.
Where outlets agree The AP and the Washington Examiner both report that Jackson said on CNN he does not regret telling Collins to "shut up" and that he will not be "talked down to" by her.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.