Tonight is the first debate between cadidates running for Sen. Kennedy's senate seat

[graywarrior]

The candidates are:

Attorney General Martha Coakley, supposedly the front runner.

Stephen G. Pagliuca, a co-owner of the Boston Celtics who made millions in private equity, continues to blitz the airwaves with ads his campaign hopes will brand him as the candidate who can best bring jobs to Massachusetts.

Alan Khazei, City Year cofounder, continues to build an army of citizen supporters, whom he hopes will power him to victory through grass-roots action. (He did, though, feel the need to pay professionals to help collect signatures, to ensure he made the ballot.)

And US Representative Michael E. Capuano has been trying to balance his responsibilities in Washington with his need to press the flesh in Massachusetts, resorting to TV ads, surrogates such as his wife and sons, and phone-in town hall events to maintain a regular presence in the Bay State.

Capuano has been endorsed by Barney Frank. I'm waiting to see who Kerry supports, but so far I'm liking Capuano.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/10/26/debate_gives_mass_senate_contenders_prime_time_exposure/?page=2

[tmyers09]

1. I admittedly do not know a ton about the race,

but I am leaning towards hoping it goes to Khazei at the moment.

[zippy890]

2. I can't believe all the Pagliuca TV ads! That guy's got some $$$

wonder if it'll make any difference.

Khazei is interesting but don't think he has much chance.

fun thing about this debate should be who's going to out-liberal the others!

[graywarrior]

3. I can't wrap my head around Coakley as a liberal.

But, yeah, it will be fun to watch. Sad, too. I have mixed emotions about it. Big shoes to fill.

[zippy890]

4. How do you feel about Capuano?

I've heard negative things about him from people who knew him in his Somerville mayor days. So negative I won't vote for him.

[graywarrior]

5. This is info I need.

I am leaning toward him, but I really don't know much about him except that Barney Frank supports his candidacy. The truth is, tho,I am really not happy with any of them.

[graywarrior]

6. OMG, I hate them all!

[Engineer4Obama]

7. Well thats not good

Details? For interested out of staters?

[graywarrior]

8. They may have skills to do the job, but they are bumbling nervous wrecks

Coakley and Khazei seem better prepared, but still, it's hard to imagine any of them filling Ted's seat.

[Engineer4Obama]

10. Well when was the last time there was an open seat in MA?

Kerry and Kennedy have been there since forever the Dems I'm guessing are kind of out of practice.

[graywarrior]

11. True

My SIL just told me she's voting for "the woman".

[Engineer4Obama]

12. Who did the Kennedy family endorse?

Or have they endorsed anyone at all?

[graywarrior]

13. No one.

Vicky is in the audience.

[graywarrior]

9. They are trying to out liberal one another...lol!

[louis c]

14. I have personally met Coakley and Capuano

and I have been lobbied for the endorsement of my local union. Capuano is the most liberal in the race. He is supported by most of the congressmen in Massachusetts. After all, after next year, we are likely to lose a seat, so they have to play musical chairs. I like Mike.

Coakley will win. She is a decent woman who has supported causes, such as enforcement of labor laws which have helped the trade unions in Mass. The latest poll has her 20 points up, with Pagliuca a distant second. Pagliuca says all the right things, but was a partner with Romney at Bain Capital. He has to really do more than mouth the rhetoric for me, as I think Romney is the scum of the earth.

Khazei just came out against casino gambling, an issue that doesn't even matter in his race. All he did was piss off organized labor. He won't break 7% in this race and will be remembered for that foolish stance in any future political endeavor.

Finally, for all the Duers from the other 49 states, here's my prediction. Coakley will win comfortably and she will vote the right way in the U.S. Senate. Capuano would be a stronger voice, but Coakley will do just fine.

[graywarrior]

15. Thanks for that, louis c

Coakley did well tonight, altho I do prefer Capuano.