Maine Senate Candidate Defends 'Shut Up' Remark to Rival

Maine's Democratic US Senate nominee, Troy Jackson, has defended his exchange with incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins during a recent debate, stating he will not apologize for telling her to "shut up."

Jackson stated on CNN's "State of the Union" that he refused to be "talked down to" by Collins, especially after she accused him of being connected to a protester who interrupted the debate. The protester, a 19-year-old Bowdoin College student, later told The New York Times that he did not personally know Jackson.

The heated moment occurred Thursday when Collins suggested Jackson was responsible for a protester who disrupted her during the debate. Jackson responded, "Oh shut up. I don't even know that kid."

Collins later suggested Jackson's remark was indicative of his past behavior towards women, telling Fox News that the response was "reflexive" and unsurprising given his "reputation in Augusta, particularly when he's dealing with women with whom he disagrees."

The confrontation took place during a closely watched race in Maine, a state considered a "toss-up" in the battle for control of the Senate. Collins, a Republican known for occasionally diverging from party lines, is seeking her sixth term. Jackson, the former state Senate President, secured the Democratic nomination after the previous nominee withdrew amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

Jackson himself has faced controversy, including the revelation that he fathered children with his second cousin. Recent polls indicate Jackson holds a narrow lead in the race.