Rep Kennedy makes key hire for MA Senate campaign

[left-of-center2012]

Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) is staffing up as he seriously considers a Senate race: On Thursday, he offered a job to a political operative who is well known to both him and his potential challenger. Rich Thuma, who previously worked for the Democratic senator whom Kennedy would challenge, Ed Markey, accepted the job shortly after noon Thursday.

The hire is a sign that the 38-year-old Kennedy is already gearing up as he publicly weighs whether to take on Markey. It also illustrates the tense divisions that a Markey-Kennedy matchup would create within the Massachusetts political class. Many volunteers, operatives and donors have supported both politicians, and now find themselves in the uncomfortable position of choosing sides.

Kennedy is considering getting in the race but hasn't reached a formal decision, according to those close to him. He plans to attend the state’s Democratic convention this weekend to continue getting feedback on a potential bid. He plans to make a decision in the next few weeks.

Early polling shows Kennedy with a 14-point lead over Markey in a head-to-head race, and a 9-point lead in a four-way race against Markey and already-announced candidates Steve Pemberton and Shannon Liss-Riordan. The Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll conducted shortly after Labor Day showed voters think Kennedy would be a better fighter than Markey for Democratic priorities, a better adversary against the president and more liberal.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/12/joe-kennedy-hire-rich-thuma-1493027

[madaboutharry]

1. There is no reason to primary Ed Markey.

Sen. Markey is a good man and a good democrat. This looks like raw ambition and it makes me think less of Kennedy. His message is "go home old man.' It is ageist.

[Green Line]

3. He's already being primaried

If Joe jumps in it will be a 4 person race.

[Bradshaw3]

7. Not by anyone with a chance of winning n/t

[rwheeler31]

2. This is just sad.

[Blue_true]

4. I agree. His advice is horrible, unless he is anticipating that Liz will become President

and wants to be prepared for THAT primary in 2021.

[DFW]

5. I have no love for Markey, but I still wish Kennedy would wait

We do not need high profile primary battles of this kind in an election year. It looks too much like a party torn and without a unified message. Markey has done a mostly credible job, and Kennedy would have to present some kind of powerful argument if he wants to come across as someone who is not acting like an opportunist. If he is convinced his time has come, I doubt anyone will persuade him otherwise, but I wish people trying to convince him of this would stop it.

[TeamPooka]

6. Note to self: If he runs, never trust Little Joe Kennedy in the future.

[Green Line]

8. Why

And why call him little Joe Kennedy?

[TeamPooka]

9. Little Joe was a character on Bonanza and I feel he is acting small by building his career

over other Democratic bodies. Especially one that is an incumbent.
This is Kennedy showing his rich privileged mindset.
"I'm running for this seat because a Kennedy deserves it over anyone else, including a progressive Democrat."
Screw that.
Take your seat away from a sitting Republican if you want my respect.