MoveOn.org endorses Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Markey in U.S. Senate race

[Mass]

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/moveonorg_endorses_democratic.html

Democratic Senate candidates and U.S. Representatives Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch.
The Associated Press/The Republican
MoveOn.org, the liberal grassroots organizing group, has endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey for U.S. Senate.

Earlier this week, the group announced that it would give its members 24 hours to vote on whether to endorse Markey or his Democratic primary opponent U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch. MoveOn would only endorse if either candidate got two-thirds of the vote.

MoveOn announced Thursday that more than 94 percent of members who voted chose Markey.

“MoveOn.org members have spoken clearly and decisively for the progressive values that Rep. Ed Markey would support in the Senate,” said Ilya Sheyman, campaigns director at MoveOn.org in a statement. “MoveOn members will put our substantial people power to work, mobilizing volunteers and bundling contributions to ensure Ed Markey is Massachusetts' next Senator."

The endorsement was hardly surprising, since several progressive groups have already endorsed Markey, including Progressive Massachusetts and the Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts.

MoveOn cited the differences between the Democratic candidates on abortion and Democratic President Barack Obama’s health care reform. Lynch is pro-life, though he says he would not work to curb abortion rights and would oppose a judicial nominee who opposes Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case legalizing abortion. Markey is pro-choice. Markey supported the Affordable Care Act, while Lynch voted against it. Though he supports the goals of the reform, Lynch said he opposed several provisions in the law including the funding mechanism and a provision that let insurers continue to act as monopolies.
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While hardly surprising, this news comes on the heals of a new poll showing Markey way ahead Lynch and every single Republicans.
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/senate_candidate_ed_markey_is.html