Celtics co-owner Pagliuca plots Senate run

[graywarrior]

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff



Stephen G. Pagliuca, a wealthy private equity investor and co-owner of the
Boston Celtics, is putting together a campaign staff as he plots a
potential race for the Democratic nomination to fill Edward M. Kennedy's
Senate seat, a contest for which he says he is prepared to draw heavily on
his estimated $400 million fortune.

Pagliuca is assembling a lineup of policy experts, media advisers, and
political organizers and is close to making a final decision to declare his
candidacy, according to sources familiar with his deliberations. That
announcement could come within the next few days.

''We're putting a staff together so we can hit the ground running,'' said
one adviser.

Complicating any decision he makes to plunge into the highly competitive
Senate race is Pagliuca's interest in buying the Boston Globe. He had been
part of a small investor group that bid last spring to purchase the
newspaper and has continued to show interest in buying the paper.

His entry in the Democratic primary race will likely have a major impact on
the contest, which is now dominated by seasoned political figures that
include two US House members and the state's attorney general. His
financial ability to control much of the airwaves and assemble a talented
political team could make him highly competitive.

Among those advising him now and likely to be part of his campaign team if
he decides to run are: Doug Rubin, Governor Deval L. Patrick's former chief
of staff and architect of his 2006 campaign; Tad Devine, a Washington-based
political consultant who was a top aide to Kennedy and Senator John F.
Kerry; and Joel Benenson, a pollster who was President Obama's chief
pollster in last year's presidential race.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/09/celtics_coowner.html


That does it...I'm gonna run for it.

[Raven]

1. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ...are there brains there? Who the

hell is this guy and what has he done for Massachusetts (my home state) aside from investing in a sports team? I'll take Martha Coakley any day. A good solid woman who has worked in the hustings.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. An Italian taking over a seat that's been in the hands of the Irish since 1953? Oh boy.

Just kidding. ;)

[graywarrior]

3. It ain't gonna happen

Unless he buys his way in.

[newscott]

4. Oh no. He's a paesan.

I was gonna vote for Martha Coakley, but now I'm conflicted. His peeps and my peeps come from the same small town in Italy!!!! I'm so confused!!!!

[graywarrior]

6. I wasn't gonna vote for Martha and I'm conflicted.

[newscott]

7. LOL.

[Dramarama]

5. Senate is a large leap from no experience