The two Republican candidates for Congress in Maine's First District have agreed in principle to a series of debates between May 26 and June 9.

It was reported Monday that Charlie Summers, who's not allowed to campaign while he's deployed in Iraq, will be returning home toward the end of May. At that point Summers will be off active duty, and there will be no restrictions on his political activity, according to his wife, Ruth.

This morning, Dean Scontras, the other GOP candidate, proposed a series of at least three debates during the last two weeks of the campaign. The primary is scheduled for June 10.

I just reached Ruth Summers for a response, and she agreed to the Scontras campaign's proposal.

"We would love to participate in the debates," she said. "And we do hope that there are three debates between those days, with Charlie being home."

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