Democrats square off in two US Senate meetings

Boston (AP/WBZ Newsroom)  -- Democratic Senate candidate Alan Khazei surprised his host Monday by urging the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to abandon its planned support for casino gambling in Massachusetts.

The City Year co-founder told a chamber-sponsored candidates forum that expanded gambling will cause irreversible changes in the state's culture and character. Khazei and three other Democrats are vying to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in a Jan. 19 special election.

"We cannot take this step. I urge all of you to reverse your position on casino gambling," Khazei said in a closing statement that sent a murmur through the crowd, triggered a smattering of applause and prompted a rebuke from the chamber's leadership.

President Paul Guzzi said that while he liked and respected Khazei, "I thought it was not the appropriate forum given our focus on federal issues."

Last year, the chamber commissioned a study outlining the job and economic benefits of so-called destination resort casinos proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick. Nonetheless, it cast itself as a neutral arbiter of information.

On Tuesday, though, Guzzi is expected to voice support for expanded gambling during a legislative hearing about renewed gambling proposals. Most of the candidates have refrained from taking a position on the state issue, although Coakley has urged strong law enforcement and financial regulation tools if gambling is expanded.

The forum was the first of two meetings between the Democratic candidates on Monday. They were also scheduled for an evening debate sponsored by the Edward K. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate. The debate will be broadcast live on WBZ Newsradio 1030 starting at 7 p.m.

Republican Scott Brown was excluded because the Wrentham state senator currently faces no opposition in the Dec. 8 party primaries.

During the chamber session, Rep. Michael Capuano repeatedly used his speaking chances to argue he was the only candidate with the legislative experience needed to effectively replace Kennedy. The Democrat died Aug. 25 of brain cancer.

"I don't think it's time, after 47 years of he greatest senator in the history of this country, to send somebody to Washington who has to learn the job from scratch," the six-term congressman said.

He struck a similar theme in his opening statement.

Ticking through a list of transportation, education and medical funding he has secured for Massachusetts, Capuano said: "I think if you get to Washington and you don't know how to bring it back, the commonwealth of Massachusetts will be worse off for it."

While Capuano did not single out any of his opponents, he has focused most of his campaign attention on Attorney General Martha Coakley, who has been the front-runner in polls and fundraising. Coakley largely ignored him, instead highlighting her pro-business works.

She contrasted with Capuano by saying she supported the federal No Child Left Behind law, though she lobbied for full funding of the measure pushed by Kennedy and signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush. Capuano voted against the measure.

Coakley also gingerly answered a question about whether she favored a second federal stimulus bill, ultimately saying if it would help with long-term job creation, "I'm in favor of it."

The fourth candidate, Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, made light of his advertising campaign, which has filled the television and radio airwaves.

"I'm Steve Pagliuca, and I approve this speech," the multimillionaire said, paraphrasing the federally mandated signoff line on his ads.

He said his work as a managing director at Bain Capital gave him insight into the health care world, but he said the most important component of the federal overhaul now under debate must be universal coverage.

"Get everybody in the boat; then we can fix the boat," Pagliuca said.