Live Blogging: The U.S. Senate Debate

By The WBUR Newsroom
Oct 26, 2009, 12:14 PM
13 Comments

Listen Now

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

Please follow our community rules when engaging in comment discussion on wbur.org.

peter shapiro

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.
tim johnson

Could someone tell me when the election takes place for filling our senate seat?
Dr. Sean Gresh

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
Yash

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.
http://www.wbur.org/news/wbur/people/aphelps Andrew Phelps

Tim, the primary election is Dec. 8. The general special election is Jan. 19, 2010.
Hawk

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.
BAS

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.
margaret m

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
http://susied.com Susie Davidson

I missed most of the debate. Is BUR going to re-broadcast it? I can’t find that info on the website. Thanks!
Myrna Johnson

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.
http://www.wbur.org/news/wbur/people/aphelps Andrew Phelps

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.”
Reality Dave

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.
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