ShareMass. Democrat launches campaign for US House
The Associated PressFormer state Sen. Andrea Nuciforo (Ahn'-DRAY'-ah NOO'-sih-for-oh) is officially launching his campaign in the reshaped 1st Massachusetts congressional district.
The Pittsfield Democrat plans a bus tour on Wednesday, beginning in Holyoke and ending in Pittsfield.
Nuciforo is expected to face an uphill fight as he tries to unseat 12-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.
Nuciforo lives in a district currently represented by retiring U.S. Rep. John Olver. The reshaped district includes portions of Neal's current district but all of the Berkshires as well.
Federal Election Commission records show Neal had nearly $2.5 million in his campaign account at the end of 2011, while Nuciforo had about $137,000.
Nuciforo says he's running because the country is headed in the wrong direction and politicians from both parties are to blame.