Pagliuca's entry could shake up Mass. race

BOSTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The possible surprise entry of Stephen Pagliuca into the race to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is clarifying the contest, analysts say.

In a field of possible Democratic Party successors that has so far been dominated by seasoned political hands, Pagliuca, the co-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team whose fortune is estimated at $400 million, could provide a potent wild card and a clear alternative for voters in the Dec. 8 primary election, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

An unnamed source told the newspaper that Pagliuca would make a decision to enter the race within a few days. With sufficient wealth to blanket the state with ads and quickly assemble a team of consultants for a race with a short deadline, Pagliuca has reportedly already lined up political organizers.

He would go up against such Massachusetts political stalwarts as Attorney General Martha Coakley, the only announced candidate so far, as well as probable candidate U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, the Globe said.

The newspaper said that his campaign team incudes Doug Rubin, the architect of Gov. Deval Patrick's successful 2006 campaign, and Tad Devine, a former top aide to Kennedy.