METHUEN — If a sampling of local Democrats is any indication, it's going to be a close contest between U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano and Attorney General Martha Coakely for the party's nomination to run for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.
By a nose, likely Democratic voters at a holiday breakfast yesterday at the Methuen Senior Activity Center favored Capuano. Capuano, a former Somerville mayor, edged Coakley in a straw poll by just two votes — 47 to 45.
Alan Khazei, CEO and founder of Be The Change Inc., and Stephen Pagliuca, co-owner of the Boston Celtics, received just three votes apiece.
Capuano's victory was somewhat of a surprise, given that Coakley is backed by Methuen state Sen. Steven Baddour, who attended the breakfast and spoke in support of Coakley, albeit after the voting was over.
None of the four senate candidates attended the early morning event, but each sent a surrogate to speak and hand out assorted campaign trinkets, including bumper stickers, pins and glossy literature.
Capuano supporters held signs in front of the Lowell Street senior center.
The Methuen Democratic Party hosted the annual gathering, which featured pancakes and sausage, while holiday music was played on a piano.
While none of the senate candidates made it, several others running for regional and statewide office did, including state treasurer candidates Steve Grossman and Joe Connolly, Essex County sheriff hopeful Damian Anketell, and Guy Glodis, the Worcester County sheriff and former state senator who is planning to run for state auditor. Methuen Mayor William Manzi and Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini were also on hand.
Capuano sent his son Joe. Baddour, who brought his two young daughters, Isabella and Victoria, stood in for Coakley.
"No one is ever going to fill Ted Kennedy's shoes, but we have four great candidates, all of whom would make a great senator," said Baddour, a lawyer who has acknowledged his interest in running for attorney general should Coakley win the senate seat.
"I'm supporting Martha Coakley," Baddour said. "But what's important is we all have to vote Dec. 8 and get behind whoever wins (the primary)."
Joe Capuano said his father is best suited to "hit the ground running" should he win.
"He has the local, state and federal experience," he said of his father. "He's already fighting for health care, and he opposed the Patriot Act."
Representatives for Khazei and Pagliuca said their candidates strongly support Democratic-party driven health care reform legislation pending in Washington, D.C. Each said creating new jobs in Massachusetts would be their candidate's top priority if elected.
Bryan Sweet, chairman of the Methuen Democratic Committee, said the group usually holds its annual breakfast in the spring.
"But we figured with the Santa Parade later today and the interest in the Senate race, that this was good time to do it," he said.
State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, D-Methuen, said Democrats can't afford to lose ground to Republicans in upcoming elections, like the one to fill the seat Kennedy held for 47 years.
"Folks, we're at war," she said, referring to campaigning against Republicans. "The party needs to stand up now and for the next two years. We need to remember where the problems started and who blew the holes in the dam. It's the Democrats who are trying to plug those holes now.
"We need to remember our middle class roots and that deregulation and greed is what has put this country in danger. We need to work hard for all the Democratic candidates that are here today."
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