BOSTON — Stephen Pagliuca is calling health care a defining issue of his campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts. Thursday, he tried to set himself apart from two of his rivals, Martha Coakley and Michael Capuano. Both have said they would oppose health care reform if it prohibits government funding of plans that cover abortions. But what do the voters think?

Steve Pagliuca is trying to set himself apart from Martha Coakley and Mike Capuano on health care. He held a press conference to say that all Democrats seeking the open Senate seat from Massachusetts should support health care reform unequivocally.
He accused Capuano and Coakley of not passing that test. Both of them have said that [...]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — President Obama is expected to announce a troop increase for Afghanistan as early as this week. While the president considers what to do, the candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts are wrestling with the issue as well. Monday, one of those candidates took a new stand.

Alan Khazei says he has been spending so much time figuring out where he stands on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan that his own campaign is asking him why he’s devoting so many hours to the issue.

BOSTON — It was the war in Afghanistan and who should fight it that took center stage Thursday in the Democratic primary race.

The Suffolk University poll released Thursday reveals that voters place the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as only the third most important issue in the Senate race, behind the economy and health care.
It also reveals that the greatest number of voters, 24 percent, think that of the candidates, Mike Capuano is most like Ted Kennedy.

According to a new Suffolk University poll, Martha Coakley is still way ahead in the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate.

BOSTON — There’s a new twist in the battle over health care and abortion between two of the candidates hoping to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Congressman Mike Capuano now says he would vote against a major health care bill making its way through Congress if the bill still has an anti-abortion provision.

The political world is trying to understand why Rep. Michael Capuano is now saying why he would vote against health care reform if, in the end, it contains prohibitions on use of federal money for plans that cover abortion.

North Attleborough, Mass. — Funeral services are being held this morning for Marine Captain Kyle Van De Giesen, killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last month. Van De Giesen was from North Attleborough, where Thursday night, thousands of people, including his daughter and pregnant widow, crowded the football field for a candlelight vigil.

WORCESTER, Mass. — Gov. Deval Patrick is preparing to lay off anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 state workers before the end of the year. The cuts come as the state grapples with another surprise budget deficit. This time, Patrick has to plug a $600 million hole in the budget.

BOSTON — For the first time, the public had the chance to hear from the four Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate on a shared stage. For much of the debate, it was hard to distinguish between the candidates’ positions.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — President Obama comes to town Friday to raise money for Gov. Deval Patrick. Two years into his first term, Patrick finds himself in a tough spot. In his attempt to get re-elected next year, he faces not only a Republican opponent but former State Treasurer Tim Cahilll. One possible explanation for Patrick’s quandary: He doesn’t like the give-and-take of politics on Beacon Hill.

BOSTON — With two weeks to go to the election, City Councilor Michael Flaherty had one last chance to change the dynamics of the mayoral election before a large audience Monday night. Flaherty is trailing Menino by twenty points in the latest poll. The debate brought out difference between the candidates, but no clear winner.

BOSTON — The Democratic primary in the U.S. Senate race is nine weeks away. The tight campaign schedule has put pressure on candidates to raise money in order to get themselves known. Campaign finance reports filed Thursday night give the first detailed look at how much the candidates have been raising and spending.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Michael Capuano is the consummate Washington insider. That’s great for his constituents, but it hasn’t helped Capuano get known across the state, and that’s what he needs now to win the Senate election.

BOSTON — A Massachusetts judge has rejected a Republican request to delay the swearing in of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s temporary replacement.

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Republican Party went to court Friday morning to stop Paul Kirk from becoming the next senator from Massachusetts. Republicans believe Gov. Deval Patrick, who appointed Kirk on Thursday, does not have the authority to appoint him until December.

BOSTON — Leaders on Beacon Hill expect that it will take a few days before they move on legislation that would grant one of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s last wishes: that Gov. Deval Patrick be allowed to appoint an interim successor until a special election in January.

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Legislature is considering a proposal made by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy shortly before he died, which would allow Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint a successor to Kennedy until a special election is held in January. Meanwhile the players keep changing in the race to win that election.