Democrats preparing candidates in case Sen. Kerry moves to Cabinet

[babylonsister]

Democrats preparing candidates in case Kerry moves to Cabinet
By Alexandra Jaffe - 11/21/12 05:00 AM ET


Democrats in Massachusetts are culling a list of candidates for a 2013 special election should Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) be appointed to President Obama’s cabinet.

Recently-defeated Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) is the most likely pick for the GOP, but Democrats don’t want a repeat of the 2010 special election — when they lost the late-Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat to Brown — and they’re looking to groom a strong contender to keep the position in their hands.

snip//

Massachusetts Democratic Reps. Steven Lynch, Ed Markey and Mike Capuano are all possibilities.

Capuano told the Associated Press that he would consider running, and would enter the race prepared — he came in second in the 2010 special and has over $500,000 cash on hand.

Lynch, too, told The Hill in an email that “if a Senate seat were to become available, I would give serious consideration to running.”

snip//

Markey has not yet indicated his intentions, but he passed over the opportunity in 2010. However, with $3.2 million in his campaign coffers and no chance to gain a chairmanship in the foreseeable future, a Senate run may be the next best step for the congressman.

Former Rep. Marty Meehan, who’s serving as chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, could run. Though he’s explicitly said he’s not interested, Meehan has nearly $5 million sitting in his campaign account and plenty of goodwill in the state.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/268979-democrats-preparing-candidates-in-case-kerry-moves-to-cabinet

[Grateful for Hope]

1. I hate to say this

but I hope our POTUS doesn't choose Kerry for a cabinet position because we need to preserve our lead in the senate without the potential of losing a seat (imo).

[Honeycombe8]

2. If it got leaked that POTUS is considering Kerry, I think that means it's a done deal..

They wouldn't risk embarrassing Kerry by not picking him.

In a way, I can see that Kerry has aspirations and ambition. It can always be said that he should remain in the Senate, to keep that seat for the Dems. But these guys are ambitious, and if he has a chance to rise in position, we can't expect him not to take it.

For some reason, the Obama team seems to really like Kerry. He played the Romney role, in debate prep with Obama. Kerry is very experienced in foreign affairs. But I don't get why the Obama team feels indebted to Kerry. ????

[babylonsister]

3. Because Kerry is a seasoned politician and diplomat, and

has had his finger on the pulse of foreign policy for decades, plus he's well respected in the international community? I hope he gets the chance to shine.

[Grateful for Hope]

4. I think you are right.

I don't get it either.