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(s)Elections See other (s)Elections Articles Title: Kerry Bests 1st Primary Opponent In 24 Years BOSTON (WBZ) 53; Sen. John Kerry fended off his first Democratic challenger in nearly a quarter century, handily defeating political newcomer Ed O'Reilly in Tuesday's primary election. O'Reilly had tried to make Kerry's 2003 vote authorizing President Bush to launch military action against Iraq a central issue of the Democratic contest, suggesting the vote was a political calculation by Kerry to keep his presidential prospects viable. But Kerry, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee just four years ago, defended the vote, saying he met with top Pentagon officials, the National Security Council and former Secretary of State Colin Powell before voting. He said his only mistake was believing the Bush administration would responsibly handle the Congressional authorization of force. Kerry will face Republican Jeff Beatty, a former CIA official and member of the Army's Delta Force, in the November general election. After sealing the nomination, Kerry released a statement Tuesday night: "I am once again humbled by the support I received from voters across Massachusetts and, after a victory on November 4th, determined to prove worthy of your confidence in me over the next six years. There are unfinished fights that we must win and I want to return to Washington to make sure every American has the same great health care that I receive as a Senator, to ensure our national energy policy rewards American ingenuity and doesn't weaken our national security and to make certain that the care provided by our VA hospitals rivals the best private hospitals in the world. "Over the next two months, when I'm not doing the job I was elected to do down in Washington, I will travel across Massachusetts so I can talk one-on-one with the people of the Commonwealth-- and most importantly, so I can listen to your concerns and answer your questions. I have always been honored to be the Junior Senator from Massachusetts and I can't wait to return to the Senate with my friend Ted Kennedy by my side and continue to deliver for you and your families." In a released statement, Sen. Edward Kennedy said, "I congratulate my friend and colleague John Kerry on his victory tonight. He is an outstanding Senator for the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On November 4, Massachusetts will stand strong for John Kerry as he has always stood strong for us, and we'll return him to the Senate with a bold new President for all the American people, Barack Obama. I look forward to returning to the United States Senate with John Kerry in January as we work to get our economy moving again, bring health care to all, restore America's standing in the world and end the war in Iraq." In the only other contested Congressional race Tuesday, U.S. Rep. John Olver, a Democrat from Amherst, easily beat back a primary challenge by attorney Robert Feuer. Olver has held the state's western-most congressional seat since 1991. Feuer had run as a strong critic of the Iraq war. Secretary of State William Galvin said he expected voter turnout to be low, because there was only one statewide race. He said turnout could be higher in districts with contested Statehouse races. Among other party primaries: -- incumbent state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who has suffered from a series of self-inflicted blunders, is facing a rematch in Boston from fellow Democrat Sonia Chang-Diaz. Most recently Wilkerson agreed to pay a $10,000 fine and forgo about $30,000 in debts she said her political committee owed her after acknowledging she failed to keep proper campaign records from 2000 to 2004. -- Selectman John Hurd and retired firefighter Kenneth Donnelly are vying in Arlington to replace state Sen. James Marzilli, who faces charges that he sexually harassed four women on one day in June in Lowell and is not seeking re-election. -- and John Buonomo, the Democratic Middlesex County probate register charged with stealing from the Registry of Deeds in Cambridge, remains unopposed despite his recent resignation, which came too late to remove his name from the ballot. If Buonomo wins, it's expected he would withdraw from the race, at which point the ward and town Democratic committees in Middlesex County will pick a replacement to put on the November ballot.
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