Democrat Markey leading Republican Gomez in Massachusetts Senate polls

By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democratic Congressman Ed Markey holds a lead over Republican political newcomer Gabriel Gomez in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race, though a newly released pair of polls differ on how wide his margin is.

A MassInc Polling Group/WBUR poll released on Thursday found that Markey, who has spent more than three decades in the House of Representatives, had the firm support of 41 percent of likely voters, with private equity executive Gabriel Gomez having 35 percent. When undecided voters were pushed to say which candidate they were leaning towards, Markey's lead broadened to 46 percent to 38 percent.

Another poll, by Suffolk University/7 News released late on Wednesday found a wider gap, with Markey holding the support of 52 percent of likely voters, with 35 percent backing Gomez.

The pair, who won their parties' nominations in April 30 primaries, will face off in a June 25 special election to fill the Senate seat that became available when President Barack Obama named John Kerry secretary of state.

The gap between the two poll results likely reflects the fact that not many voters are paying attention to the race, which comes at an unusual time, observers said.

"It's still rather low profile. Lots of folks probably have not made up their minds or really don't intend on voting," said Peter Ubertaccio, a professor of political science at Stonehill College, in Easton, Massachusetts.

Given the low voter engagement, a major part of each candidate's strategy will have to be focusing on getting voters out the door on election day, he said.

"In a special election, off year, during an odd time of the year, your ground game is crucial," Ubertaccio said.

A Gomez victory could help the Republicans retake a majority in the Senate, where they currently have 45 seats. There are 53 Democrats and two independents.

The race is Massachusetts' second off-cycle Senate election in three years; in 2010 voters opted for Republican Scott Brown, who had been a state senator, over Democratic state attorney general Martha Coakley to fill the seat that came open when Democrat Edward Kennedy died. In November, Brown was unseated by Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

Brown's win was unexpected in a liberal-leaning state and left the state's Democratic party to take a more aggressive approach in backing Markey, who declared his interest in the seat in December, even before Kerry stepped down.

"The early perception immediately after the party primaries was that Markey was vulnerable," said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. "These finds suggest the opposite of a close race."

Both polls found that a significant number of voters had not made up their minds about Gomez, the son of Colombian immigrants, with 47 percent in the MassInc poll undecided or unaware of him and 32 percent in the Suffolk poll undecided or unaware.

The MassInc/WBUR poll included 497 likely voters who were questioned on May 5 and 6. The Suffolk/7 News poll counted 500 likely voters from May 4 through May 7. Each has a margin of error of 4.4 percent.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; editing by Jackie Frank)

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Low Massachusetts voter turnout seen for Senate race after bombing

By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - Voters in Massachusetts on Tuesday go to the polls to pick the Democratic and Republican contenders for the state's open seat in the U.S. Senate, after campaigns that were briefly suspended by the Boston Marathon bombings.

All five candidates, two Democrats and three Republicans, took several days off campaigning after the April 15 attacks, which killed three people and injured 264 others, but they roared back into a more spirited debate last week.

"The terrorist attack really focused people's attention elsewhere," said Peter Ubertaccio, professor of political science at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. "We're looking at some very low turnout."

About 10 percent fewer absentee ballots, which can be a barometer of interest, have been requested by voters in each party than in a special Senate election primary in 2009, according to Brian McNiff, a spokesman for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin.

The seat became available when President Barack Obama said in December that he planned to name John Kerry the U.S. Secretary of State. Democrat Kerry had served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts since 1985.

Democratic Representative Ed Markey, who was first to enter the race, leads in opinion polls both against his party rival and all three Republicans. On the Democratic side, Markey faces fellow U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch.

The Republican candidates are former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, private equity executive and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez and State Representative Daniel Winslow.

The two party primary winners will contest a special election on June 25.

Polls of Democratic voters in March and April showed Markey with a solid lead over Lynch. The Republican race has been more fluid, with Sullivan, one of the better-known candidates leading in a March poll by WBUR/MassInc Polling but the newcomer Gomez edging him out in an April poll by Western New England University.

All three polls showed the Democratic candidates handily beating their Republican rivals in theoretical one-on-one general election matchups.

REPUBLICAN SURPRISE?

One result that could shake things up would be a win by Gomez, a newcomer to politics who would be likely to focus a general election campaign on unregistered voters and Democrats who were unimpressed with their candidate, Ubertaccio said.

"We've proceeded along with the presumption that Sullivan is the front runner in the Republican party," said Ubertaccio, the Stonehill College political science professor.

However, the memory of January 2010 when Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election, means Democrats will take any challenger seriously. The seat was made vacant by the death in August 2009 of Edward M. Kennedy of the Democratic Party who had served as U.S. Senator since 1962.

"The Republican candidate, whoever it is, faces a huge uphill battle going into the general election," Ubertaccio said. "Either Markey or Lynch, and more importantly the Democratic party are not going to be caught snoozing for a second special election."

SECURITY FOCUS

After maintaining a cordial detente for much of their campaign, Lynch last week turned up the heat on front runner Markey, criticizing his record on security.

Lynch noted in a debate in Springfield that his party rival had voted against the joint terrorism task force, the investigative team lead by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that ran the marathon bombing probe and caught two suspects.

Markey, meanwhile, has pushed back on Lynch's record on social issues, including his vote against the 2010 U.S. health care reform law that Lynch argued was flawed.

Among the Republicans, Sullivan has sought to play up his record on security -- he helped prosecute shoe bomber Richard Reid, who is serving a life sentence for trying to blow up a plane over the Atlantic in December 2001.

Gomez, the son of Colombian immigrants whose first language was Spanish, has campaigned on his outsider status. This is his first run for office, though he drew criticism from rivals for asking Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, to appoint him to the job on an interim basis.

Winslow, who had also served in the administration of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, has cast himself as a legislator with practical experience.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Grant McCool)

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Veteran Democrat, Republican newcomer win Massachusetts Senate primaries

By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Democratic Massachusetts lawmaker who has spent more than three decades in Congress will face off against a Republican who is a political novice and former Navy SEAL in the race to fill the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

Primary voters on Tuesday picked Democrat Ed Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez as their candidates in the June 25 special election, the second such race the state has seen in three years.

A Gomez victory could help Republicans move toward their goal of retaking a majority in the Senate, where they currently have 45 seats. There are 53 Democrats and two independents.

Markey was the first candidate to enter the race and polls showed him with a solid lead against all potential Republican opponents. Gomez's result was more of a surprise as a better-known rival, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, led in earlier polls.

While Democratic candidates typically enjoy a strong advantage in liberal-leaning Massachusetts, Markey and his party still have vivid memories of the state's last special U.S. Senate election three years ago when Republican Scott Brown upset state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

"Gomez's nomination adds an element of uncertainty," said Peter Ubertaccio, a professor of political science at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. "He's a newcomer who has pulled off a very interesting victory and has money, and that is going to add an element of unpredictability to the general election."

THE BATTLE BEGINS

The two nominees immediately turned their fire one another.

Markey told a crowd of cheering supporters that if elected to the Senate he would continue to stand up for hot-button liberal issues including gun control and access to abortion, and sought to tie his rival to the national Republican Party.

"The Republican Super PACs see this election as their first shot at stopping President (Barack) Obama's agenda," Markey said. "Mark my words, these outside special interests are going to march right into Massachusetts beginning tomorrow morning."

Gomez, meanwhile, portrayed himself as more independent, saying he supported term limits for elected officials.

"If you're looking for an independent voice, a new kind of Republican, take a look at our campaign," Gomez said.

Turnout was light in an off-cycle election that came a little more than two weeks after a bombing attack at the Boston Marathon that caused all five candidates to pause their campaigns and knocked the election off the front pages of local papers.

Markey was first elected to the House in 1976. He is ranking member of the chamber's Natural Resources Committee and outspoken on environmental issues.

Born of Colombian immigrants, Gomez's first language was Spanish. He entered the military after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and became a pilot before entering SEAL training. After leaving the Navy in 1996, he went on to graduate from Harvard Business School and joined private equity firm Advent International.

The seat became available when John Kerry became the U.S. Secretary of State. Democrat Kerry had served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts since 1985.

Markey bested fellow Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch, while Gomez faced State Representative Daniel Winslow, as well as Sullivan.

Gomez drew criticism from his primary rivals for having written a letter to the state's Democratic Governor Deval Patrick, asking to be appointed to the seat on an interim basis.

Patrick instead tapped his former chief of staff, William Cowan, who serves as interim senator and did not enter the race.

The winner of the June vote will serve alongside the state's current senior Senator, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who last year unseated Brown.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Grant McCool, Philip Barbara and Lisa Shumaker)

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Senate candidates in Massachusetts spar on abortion, gay marriage

By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The five candidates running for Massachusetts' open seat in the U.S. Senate sparred on social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposing views on abortion and gay marriage in the first debate to feature candidates from both parties.

But even those who took more conservative stances tried to draw a line between their personal beliefs and existing laws, in a nod to the liberal views of many of the New England state's voters.

On the Republican side, former Boston U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan was the one candidate to express opposition both to abortion and gay marriage - the latter issue the topic of Supreme Court arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Massachusetts in 2003 became the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch said he opposed abortion, though he said he regarded the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized it, as "established law" not likely to be overturned.

"Attacking Roe v. Wade won't make abortions go away, it'll just change the setting ... to one that is more dangerous for women," said Lynch.

Early polls show Lynch trailing fellow Democratic Representative Edward Markey among decided voters, though they also show that a large portion of the electorate has not yet determined how they will vote in the April 30 primary and June 25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry, a Democrat.

Markey, who also holds a lead over Republican contenders in early polls, said that access to abortion "has to be protected at all costs."

Sullivan's Republican rivals, Daniel Winslow, a state representative, and Gabriel Gomez, a private equity executive, said they supported gay rights, positions at odds with many members of their party. Gomez opposes abortion rights, while Winslow supports them.

"If two people are in love they should be able to get married. I support repealing DOMA," said Gomez, in reference to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a law signed by former President Bill Clinton that prevented same-sex couples from obtaining federal benefits.

Sullivan called himself a "traditionalist" on marriage, telling reporters after the debate "marriage is between one man and one woman."

However, noting that he believed states should determine laws regarding marriage, he said he also supported the repeal of DOMA, adding that he believed that same-sex couples married in Massachusetts should enjoy "all the same benefits" as heterosexual couples.

Winslow supported both gay marriage and abortion.

"I am a big-tent Republican when it comes to social issues," he said, referring to party members who have an inclusive view. "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the United States and I support a women's right to choose."

One-third of the Senate is up for re-election in 2014. The Republicans now have 45 Senate seats, the Democrats 53, and there are two independents.

Massachusetts' Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in January named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan, to serve as interim senator until the election. Cowan is not running in the special election.

(This story has been corrected to show Gomez opposes abortion)

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Philip Barbara)

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Senate candidates in Massachusetts spar on abortion, gay marriage

By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The five candidates running for Massachusetts' open seat in the U.S. Senate sparred on social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposing views on abortion and gay marriage in the first debate to feature candidates from both parties.

But even those who took more conservative stances tried to draw a line between their personal beliefs and existing laws, in a nod to the liberal views of many of the New England state's voters.

On the Republican side, former Boston U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan was the one candidate to express opposition both to abortion and gay marriage - the latter issue the topic of Supreme Court arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Massachusetts in 2003 became the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch said he opposed abortion, though he said he regarded the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized it, as "established law" not likely to be overturned.

"Attacking Roe v. Wade won't make abortions go away, it'll just change the setting ... to one that is more dangerous for women," said Lynch.

Early polls show Lynch trailing fellow Democratic Representative Edward Markey among decided voters, though they also show that a large portion of the electorate has not yet determined how they will vote in the April 30 primary and June 25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry, a Democrat.

Markey, who also holds a lead over Republican contenders in early polls, said that access to abortion "has to be protected at all costs."

Sullivan's Republican rivals, Daniel Winslow, a state representative, and Gabriel Gomez, a private equity executive, said they supported gay rights, positions at odds with many members of their party. Gomez opposes abortion rights, while Winslow supports them.

"If two people are in love they should be able to get married. I support repealing DOMA," said Gomez, in reference to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a law signed by former President Bill Clinton that prevented same-sex couples from obtaining federal benefits.

Sullivan called himself a "traditionalist" on marriage, telling reporters after the debate "marriage is between one man and one woman."

However, noting that he believed states should determine laws regarding marriage, he said he also supported the repeal of DOMA, adding that he believed that same-sex couples married in Massachusetts should enjoy "all the same benefits" as heterosexual couples.

Winslow supported both gay marriage and abortion.

"I am a big-tent Republican when it comes to social issues," he said, referring to party members who have an inclusive view. "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the United States and I support a women's right to choose."

One-third of the Senate is up for re-election in 2014. The Republicans now have 45 Senate seats, the Democrats 53, and there are two independents.

Massachusetts' Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in January named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan, to serve as interim senator until the election. Cowan is not running in the special election.

(This story has been corrected to show Gomez opposes abortion)

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Philip Barbara)

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Markey retains lead in Massachusetts Senate race, many undecided: poll

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democratic Representative Ed Markey retained the lead among the five candidates seeking the Massachusetts Senate seat previously held by John Kerry, although a large number of likely voters remain undecided, according to a poll released on Tuesday.

Ahead of the April 30 primary, Markey held an 11 point lead over rival and fellow Congressman Stephen Lynch, who had gained some ground after trailing a wider margin in earlier polls, the WBUR/MassInc Polling Group found.

Among likely Republican voters, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan held the support of about three times as many voters as rivals state Representative Dan Winslow and private equity executive Gabriel Gomez.

But large numbers of voters from both parties remain undecided ahead of the primary, with 41 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of Republicans saying they did not yet know who they would vote for.

Both Democratic candidates topped their possible likely Republican rivals in questions about head-to-head match-ups in the June 25 special election, the poll of 610 likely voters surveyed from March 19-21 found.

The poll has a 4.1 percent margin of error.

All five candidates will face off in their first debate on Wednesday night.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

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Republicans in Massachusetts Senate race debate abortion, Social Security

By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The three Republicans seeking to fill Massachusetts' open seat in the Senate sparred over social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposing views on abortion and social programs in the first debate to feature candidates from both parties.

The Republican front-runner Michael Sullivan, a former U.S. Attorney in Boston, was the sole candidate from his party to say he opposed abortion while rivals Daniel Winslow, a state representative, and Gabriel Gomez, a private equity executive, said they supported abortion rights.

"As a nation we respect life and I'll do whatever I can to protect life," said Sullivan.

On social programs and the budget, Gomez stood out, saying that the government should apply a means-testing approach to determine who draws Social Security benefits.

"Warren Buffett probably doesn't need his full benefit," Gomez said. Winslow and Sullivan expressed doubts about that proposal.

"It's not a welfare program; it's an insurance program," Winslow said of Social Security.

The hourlong debate was divided into two halves, with the Republicans going first, followed by the Democratic contenders.

Polls have shown Democratic Representative Edward Markey with an overall lead for both the April 30 primary and the June 25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry.

On the Republican side, Sullivan is the frontrunner, though polls show him trailing Markey in a general-election matchup.

Markey's primary rival is fellow Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A Republican victory could boost that party's effort to take a majority in the Senate in 2014, when one-third of the chamber is up for re-election. Currently the Republicans have 45 Senate seats, the Democrats 53 and there are two independents.

Massachusetts' Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in January named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan to serve as interim senator until the election. Cowan is not running in the special election.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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Republicans in Massachusetts Senate race debate abortion, Social Security

By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The three Republicans seeking to fill Massachusetts' open seat in the Senate sparred over social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposing views on abortion and social programs in the first debate to feature candidates from both parties.

The Republican front-runner Michael Sullivan, a former U.S. Attorney in Boston, was the sole candidate from his party to say he opposed abortion while rivals Daniel Winslow, a state representative, and Gabriel Gomez, a private equity executive, said they supported abortion rights.

"As a nation we respect life and I'll do whatever I can to protect life," said Sullivan.

On social programs and the budget, Gomez stood out, saying that the government should apply a means-testing approach to determine who draws Social Security benefits.

"Warren Buffett probably doesn't need his full benefit," Gomez said. Winslow and Sullivan expressed doubts about that proposal.

"It's not a welfare program; it's an insurance program," Winslow said of Social Security.

The hourlong debate was divided into two halves, with the Republicans going first, followed by the Democratic contenders.

Polls have shown Democratic Representative Edward Markey with an overall lead for both the April 30 primary and the June 25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry.

On the Republican side, Sullivan is the frontrunner, though polls show him trailing Markey in a general-election matchup.

Markey's primary rival is fellow Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A Republican victory could boost that party's effort to take a majority in the Senate in 2014, when one-third of the chamber is up for re-election. Currently the Republicans have 45 Senate seats, the Democrats 53 and there are two independents.

Massachusetts' Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in January named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan to serve as interim senator until the election. Cowan is not running in the special election.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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Senate candidates in Massachusetts spar on abortion, gay marriage

By Scott Malone

NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The five candidates running for Massachusetts' open seat in the Senate sparred on social issues on Wednesday, staking out opposing views on abortion and gay marriage in the first debate to feature candidates from both parties.

But even those who took more conservative stances tried to draw a line between their personal beliefs and existing laws, in a nod to the liberal views of many of the New England state's voters.

On the Republican side, former Boston U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan was the one candidate to express opposition both to abortion and gay marriage - the latter issue the topic of Supreme Court arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Massachusetts in 2003 became the first state to legalize gay marriage.

On the Democratic side, Representative Stephen Lynch said he opposed abortion, though he said he regarded the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized it, as "established law" not likely to be overturned.

"Attacking Roe v. Wade won't make abortions go away, it'll just change the setting ... to one that is more dangerous for women," said Lynch.

Early polls show Lynch trailing fellow Democratic Representative Edward Markey among decided voters, though they also show that a large portion of the electorate has not yet determined how they will vote in the April 30 primary and June 25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry, a Democrat.

Markey, who also holds a lead over Republican contenders in early polls, said that access to abortion "has to be protected at all costs."

Sullivan's Republican rivals, Daniel Winslow, a state representative, and Gabriel Gomez, a private equity executive, said they supported both abortion rights and gay rights, positions at odds with many members of their party.

"If two people are in love they should be able to get married. I support repealing DOMA," said Gomez, in reference to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a law signed by former President Bill Clinton that prevented same-sex couples from obtaining federal benefits.

Sullivan called himself a "traditionalist" on marriage, telling reporters after the debate "marriage is between one man and one woman."

However, noting that he believed states should determine laws regarding marriage, he said he also supported the repeal of DOMA, adding that he believed that same-sex couples married in Massachusetts should enjoy "all the same benefits" as heterosexual couples.

Winslow supported both gay marriage and abortion.

"I am a big-tent Republican when it comes to social issues," he said, referring to party members who have an inclusive view. "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the United States and I support a women's right to choose."

One-third of the Senate is up for re-election in 2014. The Republicans now have 45 Senate seats, the Democrats 53, and there are two independents.

Massachusetts' Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in January named his former chief of staff, William "Mo" Cowan, to serve as interim senator until the election. Cowan is not running in the special election.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Philip Barbara)

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Markey retains lead in Massachusetts Senate race, many undecided: poll

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

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Markey retains lead in Massachusetts Senate race, many undecided: poll

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

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Massachusetts Democrats blast billionaire's bid to stir Senate race

By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - Both Democratic contenders in Massachusetts' April Senate primary are pushing back against a former hedge fund manager turned environmental activist who is trying to make the proposed Keystone XL pipeline an issue in the race.

While the pipeline, which would carry crude from Canada's tar sands to Texas refineries, is not due to come anywhere near the New England state, California billionaire Tom Steyer is threatening a campaign to make it a wedge issue ahead of the April 30 primary.

Steyer, who last year stepped down from the Farrallon Capital Management hedge fund he founded, has threatened to campaign against one of the contenders for the seat, Representative Stephen Lynch, if he does not drop his support for the $5.3 billion pipeline.

Both Lynch and his rival and fellow Congressman Edward Markey, who is leading in early polls, pushed back against Steyer, saying that his plans would run afoul of a "People's Pledge" the two agreed to in an effort to keep outside money out of the campaign.

Lynch, a former ironworker, has dismissed Steyer's threat.

"I think most Americans are tired of being shoved," Lynch, a former ironworker, wrote in an op-ed published in the Boston Globe on Friday.

Markey on Friday called on Steyer to stay out of the race.

"These kinds of tactics have no place in our political discourse and should be repudiated," Markey said. "Steyer should immediately withdraw his threats and ultimatum, and stay out of this Senate race."

Under the "People's Pledge," both Markey and Lynch agreed to donate money from their campaign funds to a charity of his rival's choice if an outsider buys attack ads against a rival.

Steyer said through a spokesman that the pledge leaves room for other campaign operations, such as phone banks, research and rallies.

"While we have great respect for Ed Markey and know he is a real Democrat, the issue in this race is whether Steve Lynch is running to be the Senator from Canada fighting for increasing the wealth of a foreign oil company or a Senator from Massachusetts who will stand for the common good of the Commonwealth," said Chris Lehane, a spokesman for Steyer.

The campaign against Lynch was due to kick off on Friday with trucks driving the streets with mounted video screens showing ads questioning his stance on the pipeline, health care reform and abortion.

Late last year, Steyer stepped down from the hedge fund he founded, Farallon Capital, to focus his time on promoting alternative energy sources and expand his efforts in Democratic politics.

He went on to spend more than $30 million in California to support a ballot initiative, Proposition 30, that closed a tax loophole and funnels money to projects that create clean energy jobs.

The three Republican candidates in the Massachusetts race, which will end with the June 25 special election to fill the Senate seat that came available when John Kerry was named secretary of state, did not sign the "People's Pledge."

The trio -- former Attorney Michael Sullivan, state Representative Daniel Winslow and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez -- argued that as relative political newcomers, they do not have the established campaign operations and political war chests that their Democratic rivals have.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Leslie Gevirtz)

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Keystone XL pipeline debate rattles Massachusetts Senate race

By Scott Malone and Timothy Gardner

BOSTON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former hedge fund manager turned environmental activist who opposes the Keystone XL pipeline has waded into the Massachusetts Senate race, threatening to undermine a pledge by the two Democratic candidates to reject outside money.

California billionaire Tom Steyer has called on Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch to abandon his support for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport crude from Canada's oil sands to refineries in Texas.

The Obama administration is expected to make a final decision on the TransCanada Corp pipeline late this summer. A permit has been pending for more than four years while environmental activists have staged protests against it. Pipeline supporters in Congress have introduced bills to push the project through more quickly.

Steyer, who stepped down last year from the hedge fund he founded to focus on encouraging alternative energy development, called on Lynch to reverse his stance on the pipeline by Friday. Otherwise, Steyer promised "an aggressive public education campaign" aimed at torpedoing Lynch's bid to win the Democratic Senate primary on April 30.

Lynch and other supporters say the $5.3 billion Keystone XL project - which would transport oil down the middle of the United States, nowhere near Massachusetts - would create jobs and unlock a valuable energy source.

Opponents blast the pipeline as a source of the greenhouse gases that are contributing to global climate change. Lynch's Democratic rival, Representative Edward Markey, the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, is an outspoken opponent of the Keystone project.

But Markey has also urged candidates in the primary to reject money or support from interest groups outside the state. He has already drawn criticism for Steyer's pledge to go after Lynch, and has urged the billionaire to stay out of the race.

Markey, elected to the House of Representatives in 1976, is the longest-serving member of the New England Congressional delegation. Lynch, a former ironworker, has been in the House since 2001. The primary is a run up to the June 25 special election for the Senate seat left open when Senator John Kerry recently became Secretary of State.

"Climate change is on the ballot on April 30 as it never has been before," said the open letter signed this week by Steyer and four activists.

Steyer's letter urged Lynch to switch his position on Keystone or provide assurances from TransCanada and refiners that all oil shipped on the pipeline would stay in the United States. Environmentalists and some economists say much of the oil sent through the line could get exported because U.S. oil production has boomed while domestic demand has stagnated.

While Massachusetts is not an energy-producing state, environmental issues resonate with its liberal-leaning voters, especially those who vote in Democratic primaries.

Lynch's campaign dismissed Steyer's threat.

"This letter reads like something out of a James Bond film - a billionaire making threats and issuing ultimatums," said spokesman Conor Yunits. "Congressman Lynch supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and he is not going to respond to threats and ultimatums."

'PEOPLE'S PLEDGE' AT RISK

Last year, Steyer spent more than $30 million in his home state of California on Proposition 39, a measure to close a tax loophole and funnel money to projects that create clean energy jobs.

His involvement in the Massachusetts race could cause headaches for front-runner Markey, who early in the campaign called on all contenders to honor a "People's Pledge," intended to keep outside groups from funding attack ads.

That agreement was modeled on one that former Senator Scott Brown, a Republican, and his successor Elizabeth Warren agreed to in last year's Massachusetts' Senate race, which Warren won.

All three Republican contenders in the 2013 race -- former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, state Representative Daniel Winslow and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez -- rejected that proposal, noting that they not did have the established organizations and campaign war chests of their Democratic rivals.

Markey's political organization had $3 million in cash on hand as of December 31, while Lynch's group had $760,206, according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks campaign finance disclosures. None of the Republican contenders have yet filed details of their campaign finances, according to the database.

If an outsider buys ads to attack Markey or Lynch, each candidate has pledged that his campaign will make a donation equal to half the value of the ads to a charity of his opponent's choice.

Steyer believes he can campaign against Lynch, without running afoul of the pledge, a spokesman said.

It "leaves plenty of room for field operations, for phones, for targeting voters for other types of non-conventional communications, for the release of reports, for activities on college campuses," said Chris Lehane, Steyer's spokesman.

Even that could look bad for Markey, who an early poll showed with a lead both in the primary and special election.

"I don't think that either Markey or Lynch want to be in the position of arguing technicalities," said Peter Ubertaccio, a professor of political science at Stonehill College, in Easton, Massachusetts. "If outside money is going to be spent against one of them then the other has to pay up."

Without specifically naming Steyer, Markey's campaign called on his supporters to honor the pledge.

"Ed Markey categorically rejects any third-party expenditure against Stephen Lynch that would violate the People's Pledge they both have signed, and urges groups and individuals on both sides to respect the pledge to keep outside advertisements off Massachusetts airwaves," said Campaign Manager Sarah Benzing.

CONGRESS SEEKS CONTROL OF KEYSTONE

Opposition by environmentalists like Steyer to the 800,000 barrel-per-day pipeline project have threatened further delays in the administration's decision on the pipeline. Bills in both the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and in the Democratic-led Senate would take the final decision on the project's future out of the administration's hands.

Previous efforts in the Senate to take control have fallen short, but sponsors say they have more votes now that TransCanada rerouted the line through sensitive ecological areas in Nebraska. Obama could veto any bill that passes, but he may find that difficult if senators add it to must-pass legislation.

Steyer's spokesman said his campaign planned to carry through with its threat regardless of the pledge.

"The campaign will focus on everything that is consistent within the parameters of the pledge, but I think you will see some innovative and creative activities taking place out there," said Lehane. "There are now a bunch of ways that you can get in front of a large number of eyeballs that will be completely consistent with the pledge."

(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and David Gregorio)

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Massachusetts Republicans to face off in first debate of Senate race

By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - The three Republican contenders for the Massachusetts Senate seat that opened up when John Kerry was named Secretary of State were set to face off in their first debate on Tuesday.

The trio - Boston's former top federal prosecutor, a state representative and a private equity executive - face an uphill battle in liberal-leaning Massachusetts, where polls show Democrats with a strong lead ahead of the June 25 special election for the vacant Senate seat.

Among the Republicans, former Attorney Michael Sullivan had the strongest support among likely voters in a University of Massachusetts Lowell-Boston Herald survey conducted last week, followed by private equity executive and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez, with State Representative Daniel Winslow in third.

But all three Republicans trailed Representative Edward Markey, a Democrat, who also holds a lead over fellow Democratic Congressman Stephen Lynch.

Pollsters caution that all five candidates had relatively low name recognition among likely voters, meaning that the lead could easily change.

The Republicans were set to kick off an hour-long debate on Tuesday at 7 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, about 30 miles south of Boston.

They will ask each other questions and face questions from moderator Peter Ubertaccio, a professor at Stonehill.

"We are going to deal with economic issues, social issues, have some conversation about the Republican party and its direction," Ubertaccio said.

Sullivan, who holds more conservative positions on social issues than Gomez and Winslow, is the one candidate in the race to oppose gay marriage, which is legal in Massachusetts.

The Republicans' views are more in line on economic issues, with all three arguing for spending cuts to lower the federal government's $16 trillion in debt.

In the state's last special Senate election three years ago, Republican Scott Brown stunned the liberal establishment by winning the seat that liberal lion Edward M. Kennedy held for almost a half-century.

This time, a Republican victory could help the party's effort to retake a majority in the Senate, where it holds 45 seats. Democrats have 43 seats, and there are two independents.

In January, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick named his former chief of staff, William Cowan, as interim senator. Cowan is not running for the seat on a permanent basis.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Jan Paschal)

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Second Republican says he passes threshold for Massachusetts Senate race

BOSTON (Reuters) - A second Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate reported on Tuesday that he had collected enough signatures for a spot in the race to vie for the seat previously held by John Kerry, setting the stage for two competitive party primaries in April.

Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL and private equity executive, said his campaign had gathered 25,000 signatures of registered voters, exceeding the 10,000 names required by state law and matching the total claimed by rival Republican Dan Winslow, a state representative.

"Our campaign against crushing debt (and) gridlock starts Thursday," Gomez said via his Twitter feed.

The signature requirement was seen as a higher hurdle for Winslow and Gomez, a political newcomer, than for Democratic contenders Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch, two U.S. congressmen with large existing campaign organizations.

All four candidates, as well as former Boston U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, a Republican, face a Wednesday deadline to submit 10,000 signatures of registered voters to win a place on the ballot in the April 30 primary.

The special election to fill the seat that came open when John Kerry was named secretary of state has been scheduled for June 25.

Markey and Lynch have called on all candidates in the race to sign a "People's Pledge" that would have candidates reject third-party advertisements and mailings in support of their campaigns.

Outside-funded ads, often used to attack rival candidates, have become a major force in U.S. elections and of particular concern in races like the upcoming Massachusetts race, which falls outside the normal November voting cycle.

Both candidates in last year's Massachusetts Senate election, in which Democrat Elizabeth Warren ousted incumbent Republican Scott Brown, agreed to reject outside ads.

So far in this race, Republican Winslow has refused to sign the pledge, saying he had no reason to reject outside support - and noting that both Markey and Lynch already had well-funded campaign machines. Gomez so far has not made a decision on whether to abide by the pledge, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

Republicans currently hold 45 seats in the U.S. Senate.

Following Kerry's appointment to the Cabinet, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, appointed his former chief of staff, William Cowan, to the seat until a successor is picked. Cowan said he would not run in the special election.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Lisa Von Ahn)

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