BROCKTON, Mass. -- In the 9th Congressional District, incumbent Stephen Lynch is facing a somewhat unusual circumstance for a Democrat -- a party rival in the primary.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that while Lynch went door to door in Brockton on Wednesday, he ran into a few former South Boston neighbors, but he also met Jeanette Thomas.

"I just came by to say hello and ask for your consideration," Lynch said.

Thomas has voted for Lynch in the past, but this time?

"I see the younger generation without jobs and health insurance," Thomas said.

It's this window of possibility that's invited challengers, including a Democrat whom he'll face in next week's primary Mac D'Alessandro.

"People are frustrated. People are frustrated with a Washington in which a lot of members of Congress, like Congressman Lynch, seem to be most concerned when they take votes, preserving one job and one job alone -- their own," D'Alessandro said.

D'Alessandro is aggressively attacking Lynch on two issues: his votes for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and his vote against the final health care bill.

"The health care bill that Congressman Lynch voted against, when it mattered most, he voted no. He stood with insurance companies," D'Alessandro said.

But Lynch reminded voters there was a 1,000-page difference between the first bill and the last one.

"Let's be clear. I voted for a good health care bill, and I voted against a lousy one," Lynch said.

Lynch is less worried about D'Alessandro's attacks on his votes supporting the wars. He said he's more focused on other issues. He denied that he was looking ahead to a possible Senate run.

"Oh, I'm not even thinking about that," he said. "I'm not. I'm actually focused on (that) this is a very tough environment for incumbents. Period."