Lynch challenger takes aim at 2002 Iraq vote

One of U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's challengers is zeroing in on the South Boston Democrat's 2002 vote on invading Iraq.

Mac D'Alessandro, a Milton Democrat running against Lynch in the primary, has launched a map on his campaign website that seeks to tally the costs of the Iraq War for each down in the Ninth Congressional District. For Boston (and by extension Dorchester), the cost is $2.04 billion, and thousands of police, teachers and firefighters.

Lynch has said his vote was based on bad information from the Bush White House about whether Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a threat. He would have voted against the war if he had had the right information, he says.

D'Alessandro isn't the first candidate to have taken aim at Lynch's vote. In 2006, Phil Dunkelbarger, running as a Democrat, also hit Lynch on the vote. Dunkelbarger is running again this year as an independent.

Two Republicans are also running for the seat, including war photographer Keith Lepor.

The primary is Sept. 14 and the general election is Nov. 2.

SEE ALSO: This Dot Reporter Notebook from 2003.