< Back to front page Text size – +

Capuano in race for Kennedy’s Senate seat

E-mail|Link|Comments () September 15, 2009 02:26 PM

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

US Representative Michael Capuano reaffirmed this afternoon that he is running for US Senate, and said he plans to make a formal announcement Friday.

Representative Capuano

“I’m definitely in,” he said in an interview, following the surprising announcement that US Representative Steve Lynch had decided not to run.

“I really think Steve’s decision seals the true contenders,” Capuano said. “It will really be a two-person race. There will be other candidates, and that’s fine, but I don’t think the people of Massachusetts want to replace the most experienced, and most successful person in the Senate with someone who has no legislative experience at all.”

Two non-politicians – Boston Celtics co-owner and private equity investor Stephen G. Pagliuca and City Year cofounder Alan Khazei – are seriously considering getting in the race.

Capuano called Attorney General Martha Coakley “the favorite, there’s no question about it,” and said he would have to work to overcome her statewide name recognition. But he also opened up a line of attack on her, calling her legislative record “a blank slate.”

“There’s only a few things the attorney general has taken a position on until lately,” he said. “What’s she done about the Iraq war? What has she said about health care? I really couldn’t tell you. I wouldn’t mind if you were just a new candidate, but she’s been running for four and a half years. It’s just a little too cautious to me, which is fine.”

“I know where I am,” he added. “I have a long voting record, and everybody who knows me knows where I stand. I don’t think you’ll find anyone who thinks I’m wishy-washy.”

Of Pagliuca and Khazei, Capuano said: “They have no record, no ability to get it done, and want to buy an election. I can’t think of a Democrat who has been able to buy an election in Massachusetts.”

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.