Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Daniel Winslow is defending past donations to Democratic candidates, including a $500 contribution to Attorney General Martha Coakley.
Winslow said he never gave money to a Democrat if there was a Republican in the race. Coakley was not up for re-election in 2008 when Winslow donated $500 to her. She was a candidate in the 2010 special Senate election.
Winslow has faulted fellow Republican Senate hopeful Gabriel Gomez for sending a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick in January stating his support of Democratic President Barack Obama and saying he backed Obama's positions on gun control and immigration.
At the time, Gomez was trying to persuade Patrick to appoint him on an interim basis to the Senate seat. Gomez now says he opposes reinstatement of an assault weapons ban.
Gomez donated to Obama's first presidential campaign.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
