Kennedy name looms large in bid to replace late senator
| Boston
The question of who will fill Edward Kennedy鈥檚 seat in the United States Senate has largely become a waiting game.
Will a Kennedy seek to fill the seat that Senator Kennedy occupied for nearly 47 years?
The two Kennedys seen as most likely to fill the seat 鈥� either as a temporary replacement or as a candidate in next year鈥檚 special election 鈥� are Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the late senator鈥檚 wife, and his nephew, Joseph Kennedy II.
Neither has yet expressed interest in the position publicly. But Mrs. Kennedy, known as Vicki, has received public support from her husband鈥檚 long-time friends, Sens. Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah and Chris Dodd (D) of Connecticut.
鈥淰icki ought to be considered,鈥� Senator Hatch Sunday. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a very brilliant lawyer.鈥�
鈥淚f Vicki wants to do it, I鈥檓 in her corner,鈥� Senator Dodd added on the same program. 鈥淪he expressed to me her own sort of reluctance do that. But she could change her mind. If she did, I鈥檓 for her.鈥�
The special election to elect a replacement for Kennedy will take place on Jan. 19, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Monday. But the Massachusetts legislature is expected to amend the current law to allow for a temporary 鈥渃aretaker鈥� appointee in the five months before that.
The wife
If it does, it would be 鈥済ood political manners鈥� to offer Vicki the opportunity to serve in her husband鈥檚 place, says Jeffrey Berry, a political scientist at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., speaking before Kennedy鈥檚 death.
after her husband鈥檚 death and during his prolonged illness. She greeted mourners outside the John F. Kennedy library for hours on Thursday and has reportedly sent hand-written notes to many who expressed their condolences.
Though Vicki would likely refuse given the timing of the offer, according to Professor Berry, there鈥檚 a long history of wives taking over for deceased husbands. Even if she refuses the caretaker position, she could be a contender in the special election.
Still, the Boston Globe reports that Vicki has said she鈥檚 not interested in either post, according to a family friend. Governor Patrick added Monday: 鈥淢rs. Kennedy is not interested in the position.鈥�
The nephew
Joe Kennedy, a former US representative, has not given any indication of whether he is interested in his uncle鈥檚 job 鈥� either temporarily or permanently.
But some are pointing to his speech at his uncle鈥檚 wake Friday as evidence that he鈥檚 thinking of throwing his hat in the ring.
The an unnamed 鈥淒emocratic operative鈥� as saying, 鈥淎fter that speech, I thought that鈥檚 the best he鈥檚 ever given. Based on that, you have to think that he鈥檚 thinking about it."
But while Joe Kennedy has more political experience than other Kennedy contenders, including 12 years serving Massachusetts in the US House of Representatives, he also has skeletons in his closet, which could complicate his bid.
Joe left the House in 1999, a year after his ex-wife鈥檚 protest against annulling their 12-year marriage forced him to abandon his then-ongoing gubernatorial campaign. He鈥檚 also been criticized for his relationship with Venezuelan dictator Hugo Ch谩vez, who he has worked with while president of Citizens Energy, a nonprofit company that provides heating oil for low-income families.
Still, it is unclear how that history would impact his campaign, should he decide to make himself eligible for either the interim post or the special election. His candidacy in the special election could also affect the size and shape of the pool running against him.
鈥淗is candidacy in a special election would force all other candidates 鈥� real or imagined 鈥� to think twice about whether they want to take on a Kennedy so close to Senator Kennedy鈥檚 death,鈥欌�� Dan Payne, a longtime Democratic media consultant,
