Candidate wins an unlikely ally

State Representative Barry Finegold, one of the Democratic candidates in the race to replace US Representative Martin Meehan, is getting some help from an unlikely source: one of his opponents.

Finegold is currently in a spat with Niki Tsongas, the presumptive Democratic frontrunner, and EMILY's List, the national pro-choice organization that has endorsed her, over whether or not Finegold is indeed a supporter of abortion rights.

Today, another Democrat in the race -- state Representative Jamie Eldridge -- entered the fray, castigating EMILY's List and Tsongas for "misrepresenting" Finegold's position.

"I am disappointed to learn that an organization supporting Niki Tsongas sent a fundraising email across the country specifically designed to mislead its members and misrepresent the position of Barry Finegold," Eldridge wrote. "I am even more disappointed the Tsongas campaign has refused to renounce the tactic and distance itself from the organization."

The issue first arose during a debate last week, when Eldridge challenged Finegold on his position on abortion rights. He pointed to Eldridge's co-sponsorship of a bill that would require a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion.

Finegold has said the listing of his name on that legislation was the result of a legislative glitch.

Tsongas has not asked EMILY's List to retract its email, but issued a statement today saying that she takes Finegold "at his word."

“I am proud to have earned the support of EMILY’s List, one of the largest pro-choice organizations in the country that supports Democratic candidates," she said. "The majority of the EMILY’s List email highlights my consistent support of a woman’s right to choose, and the other positions I’ve advocated on this campaign. Mr. Finegold said this was a mistake and I take him at his word, and I have communicated this to EMILY’s List.”