Live Blogging: The U.S. Senate Debate
BOSTON — The Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate faced off Monday night in the race to succeed Edward M. Kennedy. A panel of journalists provided live analysis and took your questions.
On the podium:
- U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano
- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley
- City Year Co-Founder Alan Khazei
- Boston Celtics Co-Owner Stephen Pagliuca
WBUR Topics
- Beacon Hill »
- DeLeo Bets On The Colts And Re-Election
- Casino Supporters, Opponents Make Their Case On Beacon Hill
- We Know Better, But We Text While Driving Anyway
- Commentary »
- Advocacy Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
- The Richest Girls Basketball Coach In The World
- McGwire’s Record Breaking Tarnished? Sounds Like A Broken Record
- Crime & Justice »
- Mass. Court: Sexual E-Messages To Minors Legal
- Shot Street Worker Gets His Day At City Hall
- Boston Archdiocese Releases More Information On Abusive Priests
- Energy »
- As Battle Nears End, Cape Wind Still Divides
- The Art Of Going Green In The Museum
- Salazar Meets With Mashpee Wampanoag Over Cape Wind Concerns
- Environment »
- As Battle Nears End, Cape Wind Still Divides
- Invasive Plants Spreading As Climate Warms, Study Says
- The Art Of Going Green In The Museum
- Ethics »
- Galluccio Resigns From Senate After Being Jailed
- After Sentencing, Fate Of Galluccio’s Senate Seat Remains Unknown
- DiMasi, Co-Defendants Plead Not Guilty To Corruption
- Religion »
- Brown, And His Church, Don’t Wear Religion On The Sleeve
- Boston Archdiocese Releases More Information On Abusive Priests
- Archdiocese: Abusive Priests With Ireland Ties Worked In Boston
- Sprint To The Senate »
- How He Did It: Behind The Scott Brown Win
- Scott Brown, The New Hero Of The GOP
- Tea Party Credited With Giving Brown A Winning Boost
- H1N1 Swine Flu »
- FAQ: Swine Flu Vaccine Availability
- Mass. Lifts Swine Flu Vaccine Restrictions
- Study: Swine Flu Is Relatively Mild Virus After All
About ‘Sprint To The Senate’ 
WBUR journalists present up-to-the-minute news, feature reports and analysis about the accelerated race to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who served Massachusetts for 47 years.
WBUR Feature Reports
Candidate Profiles
#MASen On Twitter 
- I'm ont sure I'm ready for the stress of the #magov race. I still haven't really recovered from #masen.
- I'm getting ready to go to DC for #snopocalypse4 flight leaves Thursday morning. Get shoveling @rachelhoff814 and crew #masen pahty on 4thu
- Iran starts processing nuclear fuel towards weapons-grade strength http://tinyurl.com/yjx6j2a #palin #GOP #Iran #teaparty #bho #hhrs #masen
- RT @RatedRepublican: Republicans need to keep the following promise. Read My Lips, No New Progressives (of either party) #masen #ilsen #ctsen #sen #senate #dems
Most Popular
- Tea Party Activists Unite In Nashville To Protest Obama Leadership
- Why Does Time Fly By As You Get Older?
- Cyclists Race Through A ‘Canyon Of Beer’
- Teen Suicide Sheds Light On New Era Of Bullying
- The ‘Car Talk’ Spin On Toyota Recalls
- Brown’s Staff Shapes Up As Coalition Of The Eager
- Teacher Suspended After Party Photos Posted Online
- We Know Better, But We Text While Driving Anyway
- 'How's That Hopey, Changey Stuff?' Palin Asks
- Brown, And His Church, Don’t Wear Religion On The Sleeve
- Teen Suicide Sheds Light On New Era Of Bullying
- Cyclists Race Through A ‘Canyon Of Beer’
- We Know Better, But We Text While Driving Anyway
- Mass. Requests Federal Credit To Cover Unemployment Benefits
- Why Does Time Fly By As You Get Older?
- The ‘Car Talk’ Spin On Toyota Recalls
- Teacher Suspended After Party Photos Posted Online
- Brown, And His Church, Don’t Wear Religion On The Sleeve
- Brown’s Staff Shapes Up As Coalition Of The Eager
- From Erdrich, A Page Turner With Deceit At Heart
- WBUR Changes Weekend Program Lineup (90)
- Share Your Voting Experiences Today (84)
- Edward Kennedy, The Senate's Last Lion, Is Dead At 77 (64)
- Dems Question Why Brown Is Gaining On Coakley (64)
- Brown Hits Back After Negative Coakley Ad (46)
- Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize As 'Call To Action' (45)
- Hollywood East's Less-Than Red Carpet Arrival (45)
- 'Absolutely' Wrong To Call Coakley-Brown Race A Statistical Tie (43)
- Seeking Your Ideas For WBUR iPhone App (41)
- Blogging The U.S. Senate Debate (39)
- Tea Party Activists Unite In Nashville To Protest Obama Leadership
- Why Does Time Fly By As You Get Older?
- 'How's That Hopey, Changey Stuff?' Palin Asks
- Brautigan's Surreal Story: 'Trout Fishing In America'
- Teen Suicide Sheds Light On New Era Of Bullying
- As Battle Nears End, Cape Wind Still Divides
- We Know Better, But We Text While Driving Anyway
- Haitian Orphans' Fate In Limbo Amid Post-Disaster Confusion
- Cyclists Race Through A ‘Canyon Of Beer’
- Brown, And His Church, Don’t Wear Religion On The Sleeve
Coakley criticized a father for punching a pedophile who was groping his four year old in a bathroom. Also, stating that a candidate is going to continue the legacy of the status quo in the worst global downturn in history is just asinine… We need an alternative, balancing voice in the corrupt, one party government. Patrick is a joke and what a surprise, DiMasi got busted for corruption. Are you people blind? Consider Scott Brown for Senate.
All, we have uploaded the audio of the debate so you can listen again — and follow along with the live blog, if you like. Click “Listen Now.”
I turned on the debate undecided, and still am. Here were my impressions: Coakley impressed me more than I thought she would; Capuano disappointed me; and Khazei pleasantly surprised me. I eliminated Capuano and Pagliuca from my list.
I missed most of the debate. Is BUR going to re-broadcast it? I can’t find that info on the website. Thanks!
alan came across as passionate but incredibly inexperienced.
capuano comes across exactly as he is difficult..comes with the role confusion of coming from Somerville and going to Dartmouth College. Martha seems honest, will work hard, keep her ego in check
Not a comment on the debate coverage – for which thanks- but the follow-up talking head replay is beyond annoying. Why do you fill the airwaves this way? I’m guessing it must be financial criteria because it is infuriating as a listener – and something you seem incapable of curbing when political elections are in process. Who cares what these people think or love to hear themselves discuss? Please stop this hopelessly self-impressed tendency. Just be quiet and let us digest the direct process or move on to the many other worthy topics of the moment.
We are in the worst global downturn in history. Massachusetts needs the most effective representation possible to Washington to protect and defend our collective interests.
Mike Capuano is the only candidate with the experience to hit the ground running.
Tim, the primary election is Dec. 8. The general special election is Jan. 19, 2010.
I am surprised to see so much conversation on illegal immigrants. The candidates are so concerned about illegal immigrants, wanted to open up the way to get the citizenship for illegals. Does anybody have time to think about Legal immigrants. So many legal immigrants are waiting for their green cards for years and years. The wait is not near end. How would the legal immigrants feel when they see illegal immigrants becoming citizen much sooner than them. Legals are paying taxes, paying fee for so many immigrant forms, there are so many stages, suffering to get this wait over one day, but no senator have time to think about them or keeping anything in their campaign agenda. Good Luck America.
Without a doubt, Mike Capuano is clearly the strongest candidate for the U.S. Senate. He’s experienced — Congress, Mayor… — practical and a straight-talker. He speaks with passion, authority, and takes a no-nonsense approach to government that resonates with voters. He’s ready now and doesn’t need on-the-job training. And he will continue the legacy of Ted Kennedy. Impressive. My wife and I will sign up later tonight to volunteer to help out in his campaign, and we will contribute to get him elected. He is someone who can get things done. Sean Gresh
Could someone tell me when the election takes place for filling our senate seat?
I hope someone asks Martha Coakley whether she is ready finally to apologize for her egregious and immoral role in the Fells Acres day care center fiasco, when she opposed the release of Gerald Amirault from prison when she knew, as she must have known as an intelligent person, that he was innocent, but she was pandering to the hysteria of parents and prospective voters.