Lynch, Markey Trade Jabs At Annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast
BOSTON (AP) — Two Massachusetts Democrats who want to succeed former Sen. John Kerry used the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in Boston to exchange friendly jabs.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
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U.S. Rep. Edward Markey said that just as President Barack Obama released his birth certificate in response to questions, he and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch will release the long forms of their birth certificates.
Markey, the longest serving House member from Massachusetts, said his birth certificate will show he was born in Congress.
He said the birth certificate of Lynch, a union ironworker before he entered politics, shows he was born with his work boots on in a manger he welded himself.
Markey also took aim at the national GOP, saying it was expanding its ranks by reaching out to numerous country clubs and yacht clubs.
"From the greens to the fairways, it's truly a grassroots effort," he said.
Lynch said the special election will be historic regardless of who wins the Democrat primary.
"I will either be the first ironworker elected to the U.S. Senate or Ed Markey will be the first ice cream driver elected to the U.S. Senate," Lynch said, referring to Markey's references to his working class background that included a stint as an ice cream truck driver.
Norfolk state Rep. Daniel Winslow, one of the three Republicans seeking their party's nomination for the Senate seat, greeted members of the audience. He said he received a late invitation to speak, but needed to leave to march in Holyoke's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Other speakers included U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mayor Thomas Menino, state House Speaker Robert DeLeo and former Republican Gov. William Weld.
Weld cast himself as the prodigal son returning from New York. Borrowing a tune from "The Wild Rover," he sang "Will I live in Manhattan again, no never, no more."
In addition to Winslow, other Republicans seeking their party's nomination include ex-U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez.
The primaries are scheduled for April 30 and the special election is set for June 25.
Kerry resigned to become U.S. secretary of state.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
