PORTLAND -- Herb Hoffman, an independent write-in candidate for U.S. Senate, said he has been denied participation in all 10 U.S. Senate debates between incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and challenger U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland).

Hoffman said he is not allowed to participate because he did not qualify for the ballot. He originally qualified, but then the Maine Democratic Party successfully challenged his candidacy in court.

If he had been allowed to participate in Thursday morning’s debate in Portland, Hoffman said would have brought up the issue of funding various initiatives Allen and Collins proposed.

He said he also would have advocated for bringing all troops home from the Middle East immediately, and suggested that lawmakers advocated for building mass transportation projects at Bath Iron Works, instead of defense ships.