Massachusetts Senate Contender Doesnt Wait For Kennedys to Run
Coakley, 56, a former prosecutor elected attorney general in 2006, didnt wait for Kennedy to decide. “Why should she?” said Alex Zaroulis, a Coakley spokeswoman.
“Shes not waiting for a signal,” said Jeffrey Berry, a political scientist at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. “Shes sending a signal to others that shes in.”
Still, “if a Kennedy jumps in, its up for grabs,” Berry said. “I dont think theres a clear favorite.”
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said Aug. 31 that Victoria Kennedy has ruled out filling in for her late husband until the January election.
Coakleys decision intensified interest in whether Joseph Kennedy, 56, would try to capture the Senate seat held by a member of his family for all but two years since 1953.
“Its not surprising shes taken her papers out,” said Martin Meehan, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts and a former congressman who still has $5 million in campaign funds and is considering running himself. “Most people are still waiting to see if Joe Kennedy or Vicki Kennedy runs, and I guess thatll take place by the end of the week.”
Serious Consideration
“I wouldnt be a candidate if Joe or Vicki were in the race,” he said. Because its unclear, “I should at least give it some serious consideration and do that in an expeditious manner,” he said, adding that he wants to reach a decision “by the end of the week.”
John Sasso, a Democratic consultant for the presidential campaigns of former Massachusetts governor Mike Dukakis in 1988 and Senator John Kerry in 2004, said that a relatively short time frame before the special election could favor Joseph Kennedy because of his near-universal name recognition and a $2 million campaign treasury.
As a state official, Coakley cant use previous campaign funds for a federal office. Current or former federal officials have no such restrictions.
High-Profile Race
While Joseph Kennedys entry wouldnt clear the field, it would narrow it, Sasso said. “It certainly would winnow,” he said.
A message left at Citizens Energy Corp., a Boston-based non-profit group Joseph Kennedy founded to assist low-income residents, wasnt immediately returned.
Other possible contenders include Democratic U.S. Representatives Stephen Lynch, Michael Capuano, Edward Markey, James McGovern and William Delahunt. Another possible contender is former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, a Republican.
Kennedy died of brain cancer on Aug. 25, after almost 47 years in the Senate. He was the last surviving son of the political dynasty that included his brothers John, the nations 35th president, and Robert, who served as attorney general in his brothers Cabinet and later as a senator from New York.
His Senate campaign committee had $4.5 million left over as of June 30, Federal Election Commission records show. He also had $10,759 in his leadership political action committee.
Under federal election law, this money can be refunded to contributors, given to charity, or donated to other candidates or the political parties. It cant be spent on personal expenses. The decision on how to spend the money would be made by the campaign treasurer.