Ninth District Rep. Steve Lynch and Democratic challenger Mac D'Alessandro discussed everything from the proposed Islamic cultural center in lower Manhattan to, of course, health care, in a 20-minute discussion on WGBH's "Greater Boston" tonight (Watch).

D'Alessandro said he supported the rights of a Moslem group to build a cultural center two blocks from Ground Zero: "We have a constitutionally protected right to practice our faith as we see fit, and you know, those rights, those core values mean the most when it's uncomfortable for us to adhere to them," he said.

When he lost the primary to Deval Patrick in 2006, Reilly didn't show up at a post-election Democratic unity rally. And he's still sticking it to Patrick, this time over the issue of how the state helped Harvard Pilgrim get back on its financial feet. The Outraged Liberal explains how Patrick should have compared what the state did to a Wall Street bailout, rather than talking about state aid:

As a candidate for state representative in West Roxbury, Roslindale and Brookline, I have had the opportunity to meet several remarkable people in our neighborhood. The 10th boasts a high percentage of active and retired public safety personnel, and I am proud to count many as supporters. As a Massachusetts National Guardsman and a former 911 operator with the Boston Police, I am keenly aware of the importance of public safety.

John Carroll watched the debate so you didn't have to:

Glossary, Please

David Tuerck? Michael Widmer? The Pacheco Law? The Connector?

Are the candidates so out of touch they think the average voter knows what they're talking about when they just toss out those names?

Memo to gubernatorial hopefuls: You’re done with the insiders. It's real people you need to talk to now.

The Jamaica Plain Progressives posts answers to questionnaires sent to candidates in the 2nd Suffolk state senate race (Sonia Chang-Diaz and Hassan Williams), the 15th Suffolk state rep's race (Jeff Sanchez and Jeff Herman) and the 6th Suffolk state rep's race (Russell Holmes and Divo Rodrigues Monteiro; other candidates did not reply).

We got this flyer from the D'Alessandro campaign yesterday:

The new face of evil: Click to embiggen

Needham Patch reports on a Ninth District forum that featured Democrat Mac D'Alessandro and Republican Vernon Harrison. Their opponents, incumbent Democrat Steve Lynch and Republican Keith Lepor were no-shows.

The Globe reports his campaign failed to pay some taxes. Also, the Globe reports, his ads about the scandal-free lottery leaves out the part about a scandal involving the lottery.