Tsongas calls on Donoghue to remove ad

Further escalating a rivalry that's been brewing for weeks, Niki Tsongas tonight called on Eileen Donoghue to take down a TV ad that her campaign released today, saying it was "deliberately misleading" to voters in the Fifth Congressional District who head to the polls in one week.

The 30-second Donoghue spot seeks to compare her directly with Tsongas, with the narrator at one point asking, "Which candidate has actually represented people for over a decade? Eileen Donoghue," as Tsongas's image fades from the screen. It also asks, "Which candidate has said she will vote to end the war? Eileen Donoghue," as Tsongas's image again fades away.

Tsongas tonight called that portion misleading, saying that she has said repeatedly that she would vote to end the war. The Tsongas campaign supplied 21 instances, from Feb. 8 to Aug. 23, when she spoke against the war, which has been the issue voters are most concerned over.

"For Eileen Donoghue and her campaign to in any way imply that she would vote to end the war and I would not is an intentional misrepresentation of the facts and it is unfair to other candidates in this race who have taken similar positions," Tsongas said. "It is clearly designed to mislead voters and the Donoghue campaign should immediately remove it from the airwaves."

The Donoghue campaign has not posted its ad online, but here is a transcript:

Question: Which candidate has experience working with government at all levels and has actually represented people for over a decade? Eileen Donoghue

And, which candidate has said that she will vote to end the war, and has a specific plan to take care of our veterans? Eileen Donoghue

And that's why both the Lowell Sun and Eagle Tribune have chosen to endorse Eileen Donoghue calling her the best choice to represent us in Congress.

I'm Eileen Donoghue and I approve this message.