Sat Sep 14, 2019, 01:24 PM

RandySF (43,019 posts)

MA-SEN: Looks like Kennedy is going to run.

BOSTON — 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. He was working as the New Hampshire state director for Gov. Steve Bullock’s struggling presidential run.

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.

“We aren’t going to comment on the staffing process for a potential campaign,” said Kennedy spokeswoman Emily Kaufman.

But Kennedy is clearly creating a campaign in waiting in case he decides to run.

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

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9 replies	Author	Time	Post
MA-SEN: Looks like Kennedy is going to run. (Original post)	RandySF	Sep 2019	OP
If Kennedy runs, Markey might as well drop out.	hughee99	Sep 2019	#1
why not wait a while	rampartc	Sep 2019	#2
Why would it have an appointed republican?	hughee99	Sep 2019	#7
This May Not End Well For Kennedy Even if He Wins	Indykatie	Sep 2019	#3
This! He's young and there's lots of opportunity for him. Markey is a great progressive dem that	Thekaspervote	Sep 2019	#6
Not my vote, but agree. Plus, I don't like voters treating	Hortensis	Sep 2019	#8
Well that is a shame.	CentralMass	Sep 2019	#4
With good Lib MARKEY there, KENNEDY needs the MUDD question redux: Why?	UTUSN	Sep 2019	#5
It doesn't make sense to me.	RandySF	Sep 2019	#9

Response to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 01:29 PM

hughee99 (16,113 posts)

1. If Kennedy runs, Markey might as well drop out.

Kennedys don’t lose elections in Massachusetts.

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Response to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 01:31 PM

rampartc (4,801 posts)

2. why not wait a while

liz warren's seat may hold an appointed republican by 2022. that would be the time to run.

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Response to rampartc (Reply #2)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 02:45 PM

hughee99 (16,113 posts)

7. Why would it have an appointed republican?

Over the last 20 or so years, the state legislature has amended the rules as needed. Dem governors get to appoint replacements, republican governors don’t.

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Response to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 01:56 PM

Indykatie (3,491 posts)

3. This May Not End Well For Kennedy Even if He Wins

Markey is a solid Dem with a good voting record. Some Dems will have long memories as they should when Kennedy eventually runs for his next office in his career, probably POTUS. We don't need this drama in 2020.

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Response to Indykatie (Reply #3)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 02:42 PM

Thekaspervote (29,061 posts)

6. This! He's young and there's lots of opportunity for him. Markey is a great progressive dem that

Shouldn’t have to face a primary just because someone else wants it. Sure turns me off!

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Response to Indykatie (Reply #3)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 02:59 PM

Hortensis (55,606 posts)

8. Not my vote, but agree. Plus, I don't like voters treating

ANYONE as if home plate belongs to their family. For me, being a Kennedy is a solid negative to overcome by demonstrating excellence. Kennedy needs to earn some chops in the house; his entire "career" so far is a bunch of dilettante-ish exposures to positions chosen to pad his resume, including his congressional seat.

Btw, speaking of insulting people who think being in the House of Representatives is an honor and achievement, not just a stepstool, just saw that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Senator Markey proactively.

And,

Former Congressman Barney Frank: "I have to say, it's part of a trend. I am disappointed about this outbreak of primaries in which there are no issue differences. I told Congressman Kennedy I was disappointed he was doing this. What it means is money and energy that Democrats should be spending on beating the Republicans, a lot of it is being diverted into these internal fights."

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Response to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 02:27 PM

CentralMass (14,610 posts)

4. Well that is a shame.

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Response to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 02:29 PM

UTUSN (67,208 posts)

5. With good Lib MARKEY there, KENNEDY needs the MUDD question redux: Why?

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Response to UTUSN (Reply #5)

Sat Sep 14, 2019, 03:41 PM

RandySF (43,019 posts)

9. It doesn't make sense to me.

I don't see an incentive to leave the House where we're going to hold the majority for at least another few years and go to the Senate. It's not like he's flipping a seat.

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