Democratic Senate candidates make pitch in Brookline

(NECN: Alison King, Brookline, Mass.) – Members of the Brookline Democratic Town Committee gathered at an afternoon house party along with dozens of other party faithful — including former Governor Michael Dukakis — to hear from all four of the democratic candidates for US Senate. Each candidate had about ten minutes to make their pitch — to give what for many undecided visitors could be a make or break impression over who to support in the race to succeed the late Ted Kennedy. Congressman Michael Capuano was up first – saying he was the only candidate in the race who is on the record against the Iraq war. Hoping to cast himself as the candidate who would follow most closely in Kennedy’s footsteps, Capuano made it clear he is positioning himself to the left of his opponents. Martha Coakley touted her record as attorney general saying she would be a different kind of leader in Washington. Steve Paglicua: When I’m out in the state, I’m just shocked at how many people come up. I talk to them about the economy. About the fact that they don’t have a job… So I stepped back and said – look I can do something about this. Alan Khazei: I’m running on a platform of big citizenship. I think we need to get out of the tired debate, this broken record that spins back and forth. Small house parties like this one may not seem like the most efficient way for a candidate to make an impact with just two months until the primary. But this gathering is filled with Democratic Town leaders — the kind of people who will get out and work — and all of the candidates need that kind of support.