In Weston, An Upbeat Pagliuca

Democratic candidate Stephen Pagliuca rolled into Precinct 1 in Weston at 8 a.m. He cast his ballot along with his wife Judy. Pagliuca is greeting voters in several cities throughout the day.

Poll workers in Weston expected a roughly 20 percent turn out, potentially higher than in other parts of the state. A small line had formed at the Weston poll by 7 a.m. But Aaron Picard, the first voter to cast his ballot in Pagliuca's home town, said he would vote for a GOP candidate.

"We rarely have Republicans challenging Democrats at most levels in most elections, so it's a nice opportunity in that sense," Picard said.

Pagliuca was upbeat. He attempted to cheer up a gaggle of shivering camera men and one radio reporter by mugging for the cameras and saying, "Come out to vote, everyone! It's balmy today!"

In Waltham, voter Ann Kent said there was one single reason she was determined to cast her ballot. "I wanted to see that Ted's seat in the Senate is filled by somebody I think can do a good job," Kent said, referring to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who held the seat for 47 years.