Overexposure can be a liability for some, but when a candidate has substantial resources and limited time, saturation becomes a strategic advantage. This dynamic has propelled U.S. Senate candidate Stephen Pagliuca into an unofficial second place in polling, trailing Attorney General Martha Coakley while edging out U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano. At a luncheon last Friday with Editors of the Chelsea Record, Pagliuca stated “It’s just where I want to be,”. “Now we have to do out homework and figure out a strategy to get into first place.” Though only a narrow gap separates him from Capuano and he remains more than 20 points behind Coakley, Pagliuca retains viable prospects with several weeks remaining before the Tuesday, December 8 primary. His advertising campaign has proven remarkably effective. Consider this: when Capuano dined at the same establishment weeks earlier, few patrons took notice. By contrast, Pagliuca’s arrival last week turned heads throughout the room, with diners whispering to one another about whether this was the candidate seeking Ted Kennedy’s senate seat. One diner even quipped, “don’t I know you from T.V.?” Pagliuca responded with a smile—precisely the reaction any special election candidate seeks. Unlike candidates with year-long campaigns, Pagliuca faced a compressed 90-day timeline. From the outset, he saturated Massachusetts television with commercial after commercial, establishing his identity and platform. “A lot of people think I’m just this corporate type but I’m trying to show voters that I’m for a lot of the same things they are and share the same concerns they do,” Pagliuca explained. While lacking Coakley’s political acumen and Capuano’s blue-collar authenticity, Pagliuca has navigated this race by seeking equilibrium between his corporate background and emerging political convictions. “When it comes down to it,” he stated, adding “this entire election is about creating jobs. If we can’t start putting people back to work we all fail but I think my business background has afforded me the experience of how to invest in things that will stimulate the economy here in Massachusetts and start putting people back to work.”. Beyond economic concerns, Pagliuca has advanced education reform, clean energy investment, healthcare transformation, ending the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage. His former association with Republican Governor Mitt Romney might suggest otherwise, yet Pagliuca extends beyond mere rhetoric. This week he detailed an education improvement strategy encompassing expanded universal pre-kindergarten access, No Child Left Behind Act overhaul with full school funding, increased federal higher education loans, and workforce development through expanded job training. “In order for our children to compete in a globally competitive world, we must provide them with a strong education. I know from my own experience that good jobs start with a good education,” Pagliuca remarked. “I believe we must take a holistic approach to education in order for our children to lead the world in innovation and industry. Education is a life-long commitment that does not end with high school or college graduation, but includes continual job training.” He also urged opponents to abandon healthcare reform litmus tests and join him in supporting pending Senate legislation. His comments follow media reports documenting Coakley and Capuano’s continued opposition to the reform bill and criticism from U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) regarding both candidates’ positions. “The national effort to pass meaningful reform of our health care system stands at a critical juncture. We have an historic opportunity to provide health care to over 30 million Americans who don’t have it, and to help lower spiraling health care costs,” Pagliuca said. “The next Senator from our great state must not be the one who stands in the way of real health care reform.” According to Pagliuca, special interests opposing the bill are actively creating divisive issues to fracture the reform-supporting majority, “It is outrageous that my two main rivals in the race to succeed Senator Edward M. Kennedy in the Senate have both fallen into the trap and seem anxious to tell anyone and everyone that that if given the chance, they’re prepared to stand with the opponents of health care reform and vote to kill the legislation,” he continued. “I want the voters of Massachusetts to know that, while I’m not a career politician, I understand the inside-the-beltway game that is being played here. Unlike the others in this race, I will not fall into the wedge issue trap,” Despite his vigorous campaign efforts, Pagliuca remains decidedly the underdog. Regardless of the outcome, Massachusetts may be witnessing the emergence of a significant political force.
