Thursday, 4:30 PM
As accusations intensify, candidates share stage in a primetime debate
By Globe Staff
A wave of negative ads. Arguments over taxes, fights for women's groups and accusations about correspondence with a convicted rapist. One campaign blaming another for the leak of details about a sex crime against a family member.
The backbiting in the race for the governor's office has snowballed since the candidates last shared the same stage in a debate two weeks ago. Tomorrow night, the four candidates will meet again at Boston's storied Faneuil Hall.
The 7 p.m. debate will be broadcast live and is sponsored by a media consortium that includes the Globe, New England Cable News, WCVB-TV, WGBH-TV, WHDH-TV, and WBUR-FM radio.
Most polls give Democrat Deval Patrick a lead, but it appears that Republican Kerry Healey is narrowing the gap. A WHDH-TV-Suffolk University poll released last week gave Patrick a 46 percent to 33 percent advantage over the lieutenant governor, a far cry from the 39-point lead the democrat held after his sweeping victory in his party's primary. Independent Christy Mihos scored 7 percent in the latest poll. One percent supported Green-Rainbow Party candidate Grace Ross.
Faneuil Hall has hosted vigorous political debates since it became a meeting place in 1742. Will historians look back and say the 2006 battle for control of Beacon Hill was won – or lost – at this old world crossroads? For a look at famous Faneuil Hall debates, click here.
