Mass. Senate Candidates Offer To Pay For Debates

Democrats Alan Khazei and Stephen Pagliuca say they would be willing to foot the bill for two statewide televised debates between the candidates angling to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

The two complained in a letter on Monday that the one televised debate so far was seen only in Boston. More debates, they say, would be a tribute to the Senate seat "once held by John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster (and) John and Edward Kennedy."

Poll and fundraising frontrunner Martha Coakley says she's willing to participate in more debates, including one being arranged by WGBH-TV. She also says she'll participate in another, without being specific.

Appearing on WTKK-FM, she listed off a series of group forums to highlight her willingness to debate the other candidates.