“In Maine, one . . . doesn’t have to be that well known to challenge someone who does have a more well-known name,” Martin says. “You get an awful lot of free media coverage . . . they may be included in the debate.” Plus, Martin adds, with such a strong, viable field of candidates running for Tom Allen’s open seat, in District 1 long-shot candidates have a better chance of getting their message heard from the senate race, at least this year.

Still, even with the room to spread their ideas and influence, it will be difficult to do so with such entrenched mainstream political names getting top billing. So far, these outsider candidates are being treated as amusing diversions, not as legitimate race-shapers.

“I doubt that even 10 percent of the electorate will be aware of these two candidates,” Maisel said in February, when LeDue and Dobson were the only definite outside candidates. “They each have an ‘issue’ with the current officeholders, but neither has any following, neither has any support, and neither will make a dent on the public perception of this election.”

That’s not entirely true. Four additional candidates adding their voices to the debate (both figuratively and literally) could mean increased focus on, or deeper discussion about, the important economic and foreign-policy topics of the day. And lucky for us, these candidates have largely the right ideas, policy-wise.

Or perhaps it’ll merely lead to a leftist cacophony, with no candidate truly offering the combination of idealism and leadership that liberals need — and that may be just what Susan Collins needs to secure another six years in office.

Deirdre Fulton can be reached at dfulton@thephoenix.com.