Congressman Peter Welch is heading into his first re-election season facing a Democratic primary challenge from a candidate who feels he hasn’t done enough to end the war in Iraq.
Craig Hill, of Montpelier, says he hopes to tap into discontent among Democrats and use well-placed television ads to overcome the $930,000 Welch has in the bank and win the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 9 primary.
There is no Republican candidate for the seat now held by Welch.
Meanwhile, Welch says he’s proud of the job he’s done.
Welch cites his recent work to protect Vermont hospitals from losing $35 million in cuts to Medicare and finding money to help the National Guard get equipment it needs to respond to domestic emergencies.