U.S. House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt has joined those expressing concern over the draft redistricting plan unveiled earlier this month by House Speaker Thomas Finneran.

Gephardt is concerned that the plan could pit one Democratic incumbent against another -- in this case Reps. John Tierney of Salem and Martin Meehan of Lowell -- according to the minority leader's spokesman.

"As a rule, Gephardt supports incumbents, and certainly he'd like to see a plan that protects all Democratic incumbents in every state -- including Massachusetts," Erik Smith, aide to the Missouri congressman, said as Gephardt left Washington on Friday on a cross-country fund-raising tour.

Gephardt was to attend a fund-raiser Monday in Boston for Rep. Edward Markey, D-Malden, the new dean of the Massachusetts delegation.

Finneran's plan would wipe out Meehan's Lowell-based 5th Congressional District, and give parts of it to Tierney's neighboring 6th District. Monday morning, North Shore mayors and other public officials rallied at Lynn City Hall to protest the plan's proposal to move that city to Rep. Michael Capuano's 8th District.

Gephardt is worried that Finneran's plan could provide an opening for a Republican House win, particularly in the newly redrawn 6th District, Smith told the Boston Herald. Also, if the Finneran plan stands, Meehan could end up meeting Tierney in what could be a costly and messy primary. The Lowell congressman announced Monday he will seek a sixth term rather than run for governor in 2002. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry have both indicated support for amending Finneran's plan, and restoring the 5th District.

Massachusetts Senate President Thomas Birmingham, a possible candidate for governor, has not yet released his redistricting plan. But Sen. Edward "Chip" Clancy, D-Lynn, announced at Monday's rally that he and Sen. Fred Berry, D-Peabody, are scheduled to meet with the Senate's redistricting chief Wednesday, and predicted a much more favorable result when that chamber's plan is unveiled later this summer or early in the fall.