Opinions, Mass. people: Many MA House Democrats now don't want Kerry's Senate seat

[beachmom]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/11/28/mass_house_members_rethink_senate_race_after_midterms/?page=1

The three names I always heard -- Frank, Markey, and Meehan now seem happy in the House in more powerful positions.

Before the midterm elections, several Massachusetts congressman were positioning themselves for U.S. Senate campaigns in 2008. They were itching after years in the congressional minority, and speculating Sen. John F. Kerry might not seek re-election in favor of a second presidential campaign.

Today, the calculation has changed. With Democrats regaining control of the House and Senate for the first time since 1995, the state's all-Democratic delegation will have newfound powers in the majority -- eliminating much of the incentive to leave.

There also is the question of whether Kerry's self-described "botched joke" -- in which he quipped that young people might get "stuck in Iraq" if they don't study hard and do their homework -- has doused the possibility of him running for president again. Seeking re-election in two years may be his only viable political option.

"If I were 50 years old and straight, I would be interested in the Senate because everyone there thinks it's a platform for running for president," said Rep. Barney Frank, who acknowledges he was considering a campaign. "Being 66 and gay, and that not being a real possibility, there's no point in running for the Senate."

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. Way for the Glob to mindlessly repeat the GOP spin

:puke:

[beachmom]

3. Well, that one paragraph was annoying, but I got the impression

from the article that those three people, no matter what Kerry's plans, want to stay in the House. That's kind of interesting in how this impacts what he decides to do and when he decides to do it.

[ProSense]

2. Yup, if Kerry runs, Democrats will be lining up

to turn down his seat! What effing BS!

[rox63]

4. In 2004, Frank & Meehan were actively fundraising for their Senate bids

when they thought JK would win the WH. Yes, the thought of finally having some power in Congress is enticing to the MA Dems. But don't count out their ambition to move up. I think there would still be a few MA congresscritters itching to run for the Senate.