Eagle-Tribune - Finegold Takes Haverhill Straw Poll

News Article

By Crystal Bozek , Staff Writer

At a packed meeting of Democrats from Haverhill and beyond, Andover state Rep. Barry Finegold topped the second straw poll taken in the race to succeed Congressman Martin Meehan

Finegold took 124 of 285 votes cast in the informal poll at the annual Haverhill Democratic City Committee breakfast yesterday at Maria's Family Restaurant.

Lowell resident Niki Tsongas, widow of U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas, came in second, with 91 votes. She was followed by Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, with 51. James Eldridge of Acton had 13 votes and James Miceli of Tewksbury came in with six votes

"I've always loved coming to this town. My father taught here for 33 years," said Finegold, who finished third in the Methuen straw poll won by Tsongas last month.

While unscientific, straw polls test candidates' ability to organize and get out their vote.

Anyone who bought a $20 ticket to the Haverhill breakfast was supposed to be able to vote in the poll. The problem was not everyone who bought a ticket was able to get inside the overcrowded room.

The committee had to turn away about 30 people - many of them wearing Finegold stickers - after the restaurant filled beyond its capacity.

One angry man, whom no campaign would claim or identify, berated a volunteer who was blocking the entrance.

"The man was swearing at me," said Cathy Bevelaqua of Groveland. "He said, 'I'll see you later.' Then walked off. He was just frustrated he couldn't get in."

Committee members offered to buy back tickets from those who were turned away. But they said they were pleased by the crowd.

"Candidates have managed to pull in a lot of enthusiastic supporters," Bill Cox, committee chairman said. "There was a lot of energy here."

While the Democratic Committee hasn't endorsed any candidate, Cox, a Tsongas supporter, said he wasn't thrilled with Finegold's win.

"After losing in Methuen, Barry Finegold managed to get enough people from out of town to come to Haverhill and vote for him," he said. "That's all it was."

The Methuen straw poll also attracted out-of-town Democrats as candidates maneuvered to show their strength.

City Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O'Brien said she thought about 70 percent of attendees yesterday were from Haverhill or Groveland.

O'Brien said she thought the race was still wide-open in Haverhill.

"I don't think any candidate has come to Haverhill enough to have established a frontrunner status," she said. "We're a big city with a lot of votes."

Candidates still have 3 1/2 half months to campaign before the Sept. 4 primary.

Finegold said if elected, he would make providing federal relief for the Hale Hospital debt a priority. When Haverhill sold Hale Hospital in 2001, it took on $68 million of the hospital's debt. The city's will be paying off the debt until 2023.

"State legislators have really stepped up to deal with the debt," Finegold said. "I will try to continue that from Congress."

Tsongas spokesman Katie Elberty said, "Niki won in Methuen, and we give credit to Barry for winning now. ... The only poll that counts is Sept. 4."

Hillary Clinton beat out Barack Obama and John Edwards in the straw poll for the Democratic presidential nomination.

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