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Most believe the Dec. 8 Democratic primary will produce the winner of January’s special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat.
The four Democratic candidates held their first televised debate tonight. Some quick impressions:
Most surprising: Stephen Pagliuca, relatively unknown coming into the race, impressed with his knowledge of the issues and his ability to parry with pros like Somerville Congressman Mike Capuano.
Responding to Capuano’s pompous attempt to instruct his opponents in Senate voting procedures, Pagliuca said he understands how things work, adding, “I know it’s rocket science down there to get things done.”
Most long-winded: City Year founder Alan Khazei. Wasn’t even close. Also gets the prize for farthest to the left.
Most repetitive: If you didn’t know it before, you sure knew it at the end of the hour. Capuano is the only candidate currently serving in Congress.
Not much difference on the issues, however. All indicated they could support another round of stimulus funding, opposed sending more troops to Afghanistan and want to see a public option as part of a health-care reform bill.
Coakley, whose front-runner status was confirmed by a Western New England College poll released Monday (it showed her with a 20-point lead over Capuano and Pagliuca who were in a virtual tie), was not pressed by either her opponents or moderator Peter Meade.