will remain w/i the Democratic Party.
First of all, Kerry's present term as a U.S. Senator is not completed, there are more years to serve. So, Kerry remains in D.C. in elected office either way, as a Senator or as President.
Secondly, here in Massachusetts, due to a new enacted state law, our Republican Governor will not fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat at his discretion w/ whomever he choses. Instead, the new state law authorizes a special election wherein the voting public may elect their party's candidate for U.S. Senate.
Most probably the candidates will be: U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, U.S. Rep. Steve Lynch, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt, and MA Middlesex County District Attorney Martha Coakley.
Barney Frank tops the choice, overwhelmingly, followed by Ed Markey. The others are a close toss. All are Democrats.
Here's other DU threads on this subject:
1.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x1343 Senate in Mind, Barney Frank Sharpens Profile
2.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x1258 GOP sees openings in US House races
3.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=158&topic_id=1253 MA GOP registered voters drops to 515,860
4.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x1260 Is Marty Meehan going to run for Kerry's seat?
5.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=158&topic_id=865 Poll question: Who do you want for MA Dem Senate nominee when Kerry wins?
****************************
"Soon after becoming governor, (GW)Bush
declared tort reform an 'emergency issue'
and appointed judges who made it all but
impossible for Texans to bring class action
lawsuits against polluters." - Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr., environmental activist and
environmental attorney, quoting from his
book entitled, "Crimes Against Nature,"
excerpted at
http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/excerpt_xml.asp?isbn=0060746874****************************
edited to add DU threads.