Could There Be Another Senator Kennedy in Massachusetts?
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Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage(WASHINGTON) — President Obama has yet to choose his nominee for secretary of state, but Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is already making plans to fill presumptive nominee John Kerry’s Senate seat.
Knowledgeable sources tell ABC News’ Jonathan Karl that Patrick has had a discussion with one potential replacement for Sen. Kerry: Victoria Kennedy. The sources say the governor talked to Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Ted Kennedy, about the possibility of replacing Kerry in the Senate and that she did not rule it out.
But don’t count on seeing another Sen. Kennedy from Massachusetts anytime soon: A source close to “Vicki” Kennedy, 58, says she would be unlikely to accept the appointment. But, again, she apparently has not ruled it out.
If Kerry is nominated and confirmed as secretary of state, Gov. Patrick would appoint somebody to replace Kerry in the interim period, until a special election took place. Under Massachusetts law, that election would be held no later than 160 days (and no earlier than 145 days) after Kerry actually left the Senate.
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