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Playinghardball

(11,665 posts) Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:25 PM Dec 2012

Not again! Assessing possible candidates in a special election to replace John Kerry

One common Democratic response to multiple reports that Sen. John Kerry will be President Barack Obama's choice for Secretary of State is sure to be "No, please, no, not another special election in Massachusetts." But with that, it's time for the Great Mentioner to swing into action. As a Massachusetts native and Senate horserace geek, here are my off-the-cuff assessments of some possible candidates.

First, I'm not 100 percent sure outgoing Sen. Scott Brown is going to run for Senate instead of running for governor. Being governor means actually having to do work; being in the Senate means you can just fart around and tout bi/nonpartisanship and independence, at least for a while. On the other hand, it's much, much easier to get elected governor, and, in particular, to get reelected—you can claim to have no ties to the national GOP and that, as we know Brown likes to do. If he's in the Senate he'll be hunted this spring, in fall 2014, and then every six years—and he'll occasionally have to fight Presidential-year turnout, as he did in 2012. Now that everyone knows he can be beat, people won't be scared to take him on as they were in 2012; he might be able to hold back the tide in midterm elections.

If Brown doesn't run, former Gov. Bill Weld, who just moved back to the state, actually might. That would also be a tough race, but less so than Brown. Weld was an immensely popular governor, but he last held office during the Clinton administration, he moved out of state for several years, and he lost his last race (a 1996 Senate bid against John Kerry himself).

Gov. Deval Patrick has said a million times he's not interested in the Senate. I'm inclined to believe him, though he'd be a strong candidate if he ran. Patrick apparently wants to appoint Vicki Kennedy. She's not categorically refusing as she's done in the past, but she's also far from a sure bet to take an appointment, and if she were appointed as a caretaker, it's not certain she'd run to succeed Kerry.

Beyond that, what does the field look like?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/15/1170392/-Not-again-Assessing-possible-candidates-in-a-special-election-to-replace-John-Kerry

9 replies

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Not again! Assessing possible candidates in a special election to replace John Kerry (Original Post) Playinghardball Dec 2012 OP

Ed Markey has expressed interest in the SEnate Run JI7 Dec 2012 #1

Susan Rice for Senator. Making her the only black senator today. graham4anything Dec 2012 #2

This is really ProSense Dec 2012 #4

Yeah, for the reason I just said. Congrats to Bob Menendez. It is a 9 step ahead chess game graham4anything Dec 2012 #6

Actually, ProSense Dec 2012 #7

I wish to fuck Obama would leave liberalhistorian Dec 2012 #3

"Rep. Ed Markey is old"? ProSense Dec 2012 #5

he is not old, he is about the same age as Elizabeth Warren and John Kerry graham4anything Dec 2012 #8

Vicki Kennedy. TheCowsCameHome Dec 2012 #9

JI7

(89,252 posts)

1. Ed Markey has expressed interest in the SEnate Run

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:28 PM

Dec 2012

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)

2. Susan Rice for Senator. Making her the only black senator today.

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:28 PM

Dec 2012

And if there is a special, then another in 2014 is coming.

all because of the big fat ego of John Kerry

but in the end it's a good thing

because Bob Menendez will be a much better chair of the foreign relation committee and can lead the fight on immigration amnesty and citizenship much better

so behind what appeared to be a black cloud, is a beautiful sunny day

Hey John Kerry- really, how are you able to walk, with the weight of the big ego in your head?

ProSense

(116,464 posts)

4. This is really

Reply to graham4anything (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:31 PM

Dec 2012

all because of the big fat ego of John Kerry

but in the end it's a good thing

because Bob Menendez will be a much better chair of the foreign relation committee and can lead the fight on immigration amnesty and citizenship much better

so behind what appeared to be a black cloud, is a beautiful sunny day

Hey John Kerry- really, how are you able to walk, with the weight of the big ego in your head?

...burning you up, huh?

"article also says Secretary Clinton favors Kerry as her replacement."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021993230

Let that sink in.

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)

6. Yeah, for the reason I just said. Congrats to Bob Menendez. It is a 9 step ahead chess game

Reply to ProSense (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:37 PM

Dec 2012

and Kerry is the big loser.

BTW-in the dictionary for worlds biggest ego, Ralph Nader came up the last 11 years.

I think next year's one might have a different picture.

and Mike Bloomberg for Homeland Security/Gun Czar

the world is indeed changing for the better

100% amnesty led by Bob Menendez
100% citizenship
0% guns in the streets led by HS chief Bloomberg

Obama is the single greatest singular player ever.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)

7. Actually,

Reply to graham4anything (Reply #6)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:39 PM

Dec 2012

"and Kerry is the big loser. "

...it's seems like you're just pissed that President Obama selected Kerry.

"Obama is the single greatest singular player ever."

Yup, he did select Kerry.

liberalhistorian

(20,818 posts)

3. I wish to fuck Obama would leave

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 08:31 PM

Dec 2012

the Senate ALONE; we need every single Dem in the Senate we can get and there's no guarantee that one would be elected in the special election. I don't understand why he doesn't see that, or care, if he does see it. There are plenty of other perfectly qualified candidates that are not in the senate.