Former Rep. Joseph Kennedy Nixes Senate Campaign

[jefferson_dem]

Former Rep. Joseph Kennedy Nixes Senate Campaign
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:15 p.m. ET

BOSTON (AP) -- Former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, the eldest son of Robert F. Kennedy, announced Monday he would not run for the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly 50 years by his late uncle, Edward M. Kennedy.

In a statement, the former six-term congressman said he cares about those seeking decent housing, fair wages and health care. But he added, ''The best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corp.''

The nonprofit organization provides free heating oil to the poor, but Kennedy likely would have faced campaign questions about fuel provided by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Yet he also might have garnered support from the legions of Massachusetts Democrats who long supported his uncle, as well as national followers of his father, who was a U.S. senator from New York when he was assassinated in June 1968 as he sought the Democratic presidential nomination.

The decision is expected to widen the field of announced candidates for Kennedy's seat. It became vacant Aug. 25, when the senator died of brain cancer at age 77.

Three veteran Massachusetts congressmen -- Reps. Michael Capuano, Edward J. Markey and John Tierney -- have said they are considering campaigns but would not run against a member of the Kennedy family. The senator's widow, Vicki, had previously ruled out a campaign.

Former Rep. Martin Meehan, who is now chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell but still has nearly $5 million in his campaign account, has also said he would defer to Kennedy although he has been noncommittal on a campaign.

Another Democrat, Rep. Stephen Lynch, said earlier Monday he would ''likely'' be announcing his candidacy on Monday.

Attorney General Martha Coakley became the first high-profile Democrat to declare for the seat when she announced her candidacy last week.

One prominent Republican, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, announced Sunday she would not run. But state Sen. Scott Brown made moves to seek the GOP nomination himself.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/07/us/AP-US-Kennedy-Successor.html?_r=1&hp

[sallyseven]

1. Except for Martha Coakley

The rest of the wannabes are second tier. Joe doesn't want to get shot. Martha has it all.

[polichick]

4. Saw her on Hardball and she was impressive. nt

[JenniferJuniper]

2. Curious as to why so many of the others

won't run against any Kennedy. Max Kennedy didn't exactly set the world on fire when he tried for Joe Moakley's seat.

I'm not a big fan of Lynch at all, and not just because of his anti-choice leanings. My guess it that Coakley has the highest favorables state-wide.

[Arkana]

3. Damn...that leaves it to Coakley, Lynch, and whoever else decides

to jump in.

And god help us if it's Lynch.