Pagliuca pledges to live up to Kennedy's “dual commitment”

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) – Stephen Pagliuca, a co-owner of the Boston Celtics, has formally announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. The wealthy venture capitalist announced his campaign to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy during a Thursday afternoon news conference in the TD Bank Garden’s Legends club. Pagliuca is managing director of Bain Capital, Mitt Romney’s former firm. While he has supported Republican candidates in the past, he says he is a true progressive and has been a registered Democrat for ten years. “I’m well aware that I’m pursuing the office held by the greatest Senator in the history of this Commonwealth,” says Pagliuca. “If I’m the successor, I will live up to his dual commitment.” Pagliuca says his Democratic competitors in the special election didn’t have any influence on his decision to run. “Sometimes people make public service a blood sport, and I don’t think it should be a blood sport,” says Pagliuca. “Martha Coakley has done a great job for this state, and so has Representative Capuano. They have experience in politics, I have experience in business.” Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.