Jeff Beatty said Sunday night that he was [img_assist|nid=168|title=Jeff Beatty (R)|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=99|height=180]disappointed with U.S. Sen. John Kerry's performance in his debate this weekend with Ed O'Reilly, his primary challenger.

Beatty, a Republican from Harwich, will face the winner of next week's Democratic primary between Kerry, of Boston, and O'Reilly, of Gloucester. Beatty did not offer many specific criticisms of Kerry's statements. Instead, he pointed out that the fact that O'Reilly is challenging Kerry shows Massachusetts voters, Democrats and Republicans are looking for new representation in the Senate.

"For a sitting senator to be challenged by a member of his own party shows a certain frustration," Beatty told PolitickerMA.com. "It shows a widespread hunger for new leadership that puts the interest of the people first."

Beatty said the short debate was "very spirited" but that he was "disappointed that Sen. Kerry cannot admit that his vote for the war was not for the interest of the country, but for his own political interest."

The Kerry campaign said O'Reilly's criticisms are off base.

"Let's put this in perspective," Brigid O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Kerry said, "This is coming from someone who thinks Mitt Romney would be good for America, that McCain will carry Massachusetts and that Sarah Palin was a good choice for the GOP ticket. Need I say anymore?"

Nevertheless, Beatty charged that Kerry avoided questions on his record.

"He just wasn't very direct or forthcoming," Beatty said. "He needs to be held accountable for his record."