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Coakley is leading in a new poll.

(CNN) – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley holds a clear lead in that state's U.S. Senate Democratic primary contest, according to a new poll out Thursday.

The Suffolk University/WHDH-T.V. survey of likely primary voters shows Coakley at 44 percent, more than the support of all her competitors combined. Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca stands at 17 percent,

Rep. Michael Capuano is at 16 percent, and Boston businessman Alan Khazei registered 3 percent in the survey.

But the race isn't necessarily over: 20 percent of likely voters remain undecided, and more voters say Pagliuca is running the best campaign.

On the Republican side, State Sen. Scott Brown has a big lead over Jack E. Robinsion, 45 percent to 7 percent. Nearly 50 percent of voters remain undecided.

The primaries - to determine who will vie to fill the seat long held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy - are set for December 8.

The poll surveyed 600 Massachusetts residents AND was conducted from November 4-8. It has as has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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Coakley has a commanding lead in the Massachusetts Senate race.

(CNN) – A new survey out of Massachusetts suggests the frontrunner to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy is not even a candidate in the race.

According to a new poll from Suffolk University, 59 percent of Massachusetts Democrats said they want former Rep. Joseph Kennedy to replace his uncle in the Senate. Kennedy, who served in Congress for 12 years until 1999, announced last week he would not run for the seat.

Among the current crop of candidates, state Attorney General Martha Coakley has the overwhelming lead, with support from 47 percent of those polled. Rep. Mike Capuano, who will formally announce his bid Friday, places a distant second at 9 percent. Rep. Stephen Lynch, who on Wednesday said he would not run for the seat, drew 6 percent of support.

In a general-election match up, the survey also suggests Coakley would easily defeat Republican State Sen. Scott Brown, 54-20 percent.

Perhaps among the polls most surprising findings is Bay Staters' feelings toward Curt Schilling - the former Red Sox pitcher who earlier this month left open the door for a possible Senate run on the GOP side.

According to the survey, only 29 percent of Massachusetts voters hold a favorable view of Schilling, while 39 percent disapprove of the pitching ace who was instrumental in leading the Red Sox to the World Series in 2004.

The poll surveyed 500 registered voters and was conducted Sept. 12-15. It carries a sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.

Coakley is running for the Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy.

(CNN) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley Thursday formally announced her bid for the state's vacant Senate seat long held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

"We face a crisis of confidence. We have lost our distinguished and tenacious senator, Ted Kennedy," Coakley said Thursday in an event surrounded by supporters.  "We have depended upon him in the Common Wealth and in Washington, and we will miss his strength, his leadership, and his sense of humor.  As some have noted, no one can fill his shoes, but we must strive to follow in his footsteps."

Coakley is the first candidate on either side to officially enter the race for the seat that for over four decades was held by Kennedy, who died last week.  The move comes days after Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced a special election to fill the vacancy will be held on January 19, 2010 with party primaries to be held December 8.

"I believe government has to work well, and it has to work for everyone," said Coakley,  a former district attorney and the state's attorney general since 2006.   "I believe that is the promise democracy has been based and I believe it is time to renew that promise."

With Massachusetts effectively a one-party state - Democrats control the governorship and every congressional seat, and have overwhelming majorities in both houses of the state legislature - it's likely the Democratic primary race will ultimately determine the state's next senator.

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Coakley has picked up papers to run for Ted Kennedy's seat.

(CNN) – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, has taken the first step to run for Ted Kennedy's empty Senate seat.

Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Secretary of State, confirms to CNN a representative for Coakley picked up nomination papers for the race earlier Tuesday. Coakley will now have to gather 10,000 signatures by October 20 to be eligible to run for the seat long held by Kennedy, who died last week.

Coakley is the first candidate on either side to officially pick up the nomination papers, but McNiff indicated he thinks other candidates might do so Tuesday as well.

"The day is young," he said.

The move comes one day after Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick formally announced a special election to fill the seat will be held on January 19, 2010. Patrick also said Republican and Democratic primaries will be held December 8.

Several other Massachusetts Democrats have not ruled out running for the seat, including Kennedy's nephew former Rep. Joseph Kennedy, who reportedly has close to $1.8 million left over from his campaign fund when he was a member of Congress 10 years ago.

On the Republican side, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, businessman David Sukoff and State Sen. Scott Brown are reportedly interested in running.

A former district attorney, Coakley was elected attorney general in 2006.

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