Pagliuca says Coakley and Capuano continue to waver on health care.

In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Democratic candidate for Senate Steve Pagliuca said last night's debate on WGBH demonstrated "that he will stand strong for healthcare reform while his opponents continue to waver in their support."

The release quotes Coakley's response to a question about her health care position from Emily Rooney last night: “I think there are issues with what’s in the Senate bill, and that’s what’s going to be compromise. And I think we need to make it as strong as possible, but going back to an earlier bill, I was asked how I would vote, I said I wouldn’t do it. ”

Pagliuca responded, “Attorney General Coakley’s position means that, if elected, she could be the vote that kills our best chance for national health care reform.  As we saw in the Senate, one vote could make the difference between fulfilling Senator Kennedy’s dream of national health care reform or killing it for another generation of Americans.  I have never waivered in my support of universal healthcare. I am the only candidate who has consistently said I would vote for either the House or Senate versions of the bill.”

The Pags campaign also took a shot at Congressman Mike Capuano.

Said Pagliuca spokesperson Victoria Bonney, “Congressman Capuano accused Steve of misrepresenting his position on healthcare which is baffling given that it is so difficult to understand what Congressman Capuano’s position actually is. Steve has simply said that the Congressman does not represent a reliable 60th vote on healthcare. If anything, Congressman Capuano’s comments last night further demonstrate that Steve Pagliuca is right.”

The release goes on to quote Capuano's lengthy response to the health care question, before Bonney continued her attack: “It takes one word to say ‘yes,’ but apparently takes 260 words to say ‘I don’t know.’ 'I will make my decision then’ and ‘the bill doesn’t work’ are hardly strong statements of support for healthcare reform. This is not nearly the level of support and reliability that the voters deserve and have a right to expect from someone running for Ted Kennedy’s seat.”

“It should be clear to all who care deeply about the need to pass fundamental healthcare reform that only one candidate in this race is committed to casting an unequivocal 60th vote for healthcare in the Senate,” said Pagliuca.