Cafaro clears up claim on experience

She was questioned about the claims by her opponent.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A congressional candidate has apologized for statements that may have misled voters into thinking she worked eight years for U.S. senators in Washington.
"I do apologize if that's how it came off," Democrat Capri Cafaro said Tuesday.
Cafaro worked for less than two years as an unpaid intern in the press offices of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and then-Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y., while she was in Washington between 1996 and 2003.
The 26-year-old shopping center heiress is challenging Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette, 50, in northeast Ohio's 14th District. Cafaro spent $170,000 of her own money to beat four Democrats in the primary election, then donated $260,000 to her campaign.
LaTourette had disputed a statement Cafaro made during their joint appearance on Aug. 24 at Lakeland Community College.
"After spending almost eight years living and working in Washington as a staffer in the United States Senate for both a Democrat and a Republican, I've had an opportunity to build relationships with the members of Congress -- particularly the Democratic delegation of Ohio -- that will give me an opportunity to be a little bit different than your typical freshman congressperson," Cafaro said.
Flier
In addition, a campaign flier states: "While some candidates talk about being able to work with elected officials on both sides of the aisle, Capri has already done it. During her eight years in Washington, Capri worked for Democrat and Republican senators."
Cafaro said Tuesday the flier was not meant to suggest she worked eight years for U.S. senators, but to note that during the eight years she lived in the Washington area she spent a part of that time working for senators.
Dino DiSanto, LaTourette's campaign manager, said Cafaro was misleading voters.
"She is continuing to tell people and promote that she's had eight years' experience on Capitol Hill and obviously that isn't true," DiSanto said.