May 20, 2009
Posted: May 20th, 2009 08:42 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, is taking steps to run for Senate and could announce his candidacy as early as next week, a source close to the Kennedy family told CNN Wednesday.

"He is building an organization and telling family and friends that he is in fact going to be a candidate for the Senate from Illinois," said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity this person was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

A spokeswoman for Chris Kennedy, an Illinois businessman, would not go as far as to say he is in the race, but acknowledged that he is "seriously considering" a Senate bid.

"He has conducted polling which indicates a strong interest," said Kasey Madden, Kennedy's spokeswoman. "But there is no timeline for a decision or an announcement."

But a second source, an Illinois Democrat also speaking on the condition of anonymity, told CNN that Kennedy's political allies are telling state Democrats that he will indeed seek the Democratic nomination for the seat once held by President Obama.

Sen. Roland Burris, a Democrat and former state attorney general, was appointed to fill Obama's unexpired term by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Burris never received the backing of state and national Democratic leaders because of his ties to Blagojevich, who has since been impeached.

Should Burris seek to run for his own six-year term next year, he would likely face additional primary opposition as a handful of state and congressional Democratic lawmakers are also said to be eyeing the race.

If elected, Chris Kennedy would follow in the footsteps of his father, Robert, who represented New York in the Senate before being assassinated in
1968.

If he were to win the seat, Chris would not be the only Kennedy on Capitol Hill. His cousin is Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island; his uncle is Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.

Another cousin, former President John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline, unsuccessfully lobbied New York Gov. David Paterson this year to be appointed to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, which she gave up when she joined the Obama administration as Secretary of State. Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name from consideration before Paterson chose Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand for the vacancy.

Chris Kennedy's brother, Joe, served as a Massachusetts congressman for several terms before retiring in 1998.

Chris Kennedy is currently the president of Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

Filed under: 2010 • Illinois • Popular Posts • Senate


Robert Kennedy Son to Run for Obama Senate Seat « The Rise of the Phoenix   May 24th, 2009 5:55 pm ET

[...] Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is already in and Bobby Kennedy's son, Chris Kennedy, is now poised to enter as well. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is mulling a run and Illinois Attorney General Lisa [...]

Robert Kennedy Son to Run for Obama´s Senate Seat « The Rise of the Phoenix   May 24th, 2009 5:48 pm ET

[...] Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is already in and Bobby Kennedy's son, Chris Kennedy, is now poised to enter as well. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is mulling a run and Illinois Attorney General Lisa [...]

Pol.PeanutButterNews.com » A Kennedy expected to seek Obama’s Senate seat   May 21st, 2009 5:28 am ET

[...] AFull Story At CNN.com WASHINGTON (CNN) — Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, is taking steps to run for Senate and could announce his candidacy as early as next week, a source close to the Kennedy family told CNN Wednesday. [...]

Gwats   May 21st, 2009 1:36 am ET

Interesting and amazing indeed, John F.Kennedy's legacy
moving on. It will be interesting to watch.

Alan   May 21st, 2009 1:31 am ET

We know that he is fully qualified because his name is Kennedy.

A Kennedy in Obama’s Senate Seat? « The Progressive Fox   May 21st, 2009 1:30 am ET

[...] what CNN's Political Ticker is saying: Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, is taking steps to run for Senate and could [...]

Michael in Ventura,CA   May 21st, 2009 1:24 am ET

GOOD!

Sidney Jacobs   May 21st, 2009 1:07 am ET

Oh for God's sake. Enough already with this Kennedy bunch.
Move over, your days are part of the past not the future.

Lexy   May 21st, 2009 1:03 am ET

Is there any way we can put an end to this Kennedy dynasty? I'm sick of the whole lot of them.

Jomon   May 21st, 2009 12:49 am ET

I'm totally agree with Powell. Rush Linboald is more toward him self interest only and we Republican don't need a leader like that. We want a uniter not a divider. Rush and Chenney need to go hunt together only. They can not represent us. We need leader ship like Powell to lead, not Cheney or Rush. Neither of them belong to our Republican Party. They just need hunting license.

Nick   May 21st, 2009 12:20 am ET

"If elected, Chris Kennedy would follow in the footsteps of his father, Robert, who represented New York in the Senate before being assassinated in 1968."

Kinda awkward wording there, CNN. Should have separated the two thoughts.

Dimslie   May 21st, 2009 12:17 am ET

Just when you thought Illinois politics couldn't sink any lower.

DELONG   May 21st, 2009 12:07 am ET

Wish Chris Kennedy success if he officially enters the race....

Howard   May 21st, 2009 12:06 am ET

Great, another totally unqualified Kennedy running for office based on his last name. When will voters ever get over the Camelot B.S.

bentley   May 20th, 2009 11:52 pm ET

we are sick and tired of the Kennnedy's.......its time for change.remember???

Thought Criminal   May 20th, 2009 11:49 pm ET

The senate shouldn't be a family business. The number of Kennedys in or attempting to get in the senate is scary... almost as scary as a one party federal government... of course no one paid attention to that last fall and I doubt anyone will listen in 2010.

Donna   May 20th, 2009 11:48 pm ET

I'm glad to see more of this generation of Kennedys seek public office. I hope Chris upholds the ideals of his father and uncles.

Joe Nash   May 20th, 2009 11:47 pm ET

Can't these folks just go away? Enough of these folks to be honest. Why we in American continue vote for multiple Bush's, Clinton's, Kennedy's, Carnahan's and others I don't know. .

Let's elect a king and have these folks be the Princes and Princesses of our new world order. I guess we get what we deserve.

TCM   May 20th, 2009 11:44 pm ET

man, what is it with that state? full of criminals? Why not appoint Bill Ayers or Rev Wright??

Flipper   May 20th, 2009 11:40 pm ET

Great! Another Kennedy who thinks they're entitled to political power.

matt   May 20th, 2009 11:38 pm ET

go get 'em chris!!!

mythoughtis   May 20th, 2009 11:38 pm ET

If he has great ideas and seems honest and competent, I might vote for him. But that will have NOTHING to do with his name or ancestry.

I am not one of those that worships at the base of the Kennedy throne. They are a large family, like many others, they've had great joy and great tragedy. These have been publicized due to their wealth and political connections, but overall, they have not had any more tragedy that any family.

Wow   May 20th, 2009 11:35 pm ET

God help us that another son of someone is going to run for office her in Illinois. It seems to be the only way to get elected unless you go to court and get people thrown off the ballot like Obama did in his state senate election.

warlance   May 20th, 2009 11:34 pm ET

What is the thing with the Kennedys grabbing Senate seats. First of all, I thought one had to be from the state to run. Clinton grabbed the seat in NY and she was from Arkansas. It is an over all grab by the dems to control the country.

Mark   May 20th, 2009 11:24 pm ET

To the author:

Please reword this paragraph IMMEDIATELY. It seems to suggest something that I do not believe you mean to suggest.

"If elected, Chris Kennedy would follow in the footsteps of his father, Robert, who represented New York in the Senate before being assassinated in
1968."

Taylor B1   May 20th, 2009 11:09 pm ET

I'm a Kennedy family fan...but why does this fellow, with no background in politics other than his name, think the voters should pick him over Giannoulis or Shakowsky (sorry if I've mis-spelled their names!)???

Danka1   May 20th, 2009 11:05 pm ET

Good for him.

Candy Wilson   May 20th, 2009 11:04 pm ET

I'm sure there is something in his "genes"

txleadhead   May 20th, 2009 10:58 pm ET

The Kennedy's can kiss my ass. They've run their course.

Kentucky   May 20th, 2009 10:56 pm ET

Bobby Kennedy is proud somewhere in heaven

Joe M   May 20th, 2009 10:53 pm ET

In your 'follow in his father's footsteps' comment, you make it sound like Chris is going to be assassinated. Ya might want to re-write that one.

David   May 20th, 2009 10:50 pm ET

Go Chris!!!!

Niki Birdsflight   May 20th, 2009 10:46 pm ET

These Kennedy members really want to keep a seat in the Senate. I say go for it since I support their moral, ethical and political issues. Thank you for the fight and hope you win.

David   May 20th, 2009 10:41 pm ET

Isn't Merchandise Mart owned by the Kennedy family?

Sandy   May 20th, 2009 10:41 pm ET

I wish the Kennedy's would go away. Not die but go away. They need to find another type of life then politics. I loved JFK, and loved Bobby but enough is enough. It should of stopped before Ted. You want change, voting in another Kennedy is not change.

WIlly Brown   May 20th, 2009 10:22 pm ET

The culture of Kennedy corruption continues

Jayden,FL   May 20th, 2009 10:16 pm ET

Great! cya Burris...

BOUDIN   May 20th, 2009 10:02 pm ET

Not another one

Peter (CA)   May 20th, 2009 9:59 pm ET

yeah, yeah, yeah we can't possibly have another Kennedy.

Funny how the same right wingers saying this were OK with Jeb Bush possibly running for the Senate.

Typical White Person   May 20th, 2009 9:43 pm ET

Um...Kennedys are not doing so well lately in the political arena...

Aaron   May 20th, 2009 9:41 pm ET

I'm from Illinois and a democrat and am getting sick of the Kennedys as well as Roland Burris. If they can't put up a fresh name I may start voting for more republicans.

Matthieu   May 20th, 2009 9:40 pm ET

Chris,

You should definitely go for the senate seat. We need a good person to replace the seat of President Obama who was a really good senator and I think you would make the perfect senator.

skyhawkdriver   May 20th, 2009 9:36 pm ET

Great..just what the country needs..another kennedy hack..I hope somebody checks this guys driving record

Proud DHS radical   May 20th, 2009 9:06 pm ET

Are there any non-crooked Kennedy's out there?

Sniffit   May 20th, 2009 9:06 pm ET

Meh...I'm not a fan of the appearance of nepotism. However, if the GOP is smart...and it's decidedly NOT evidencing that right now...it will NOT take the supposed bait and try to make it a big issue out of the name thing. Knowing the GOP can't resist and hopefully having a little foresight, what the Dems really SHOULD do is field a viable, crystal clean and young alternative and avoid the mess...it's a giveaway against Burris anyway.

Glennis   May 20th, 2009 9:00 pm ET

Great. Just what we need. Another useless Kennedy.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@PrestonCNN: I tweeted this late last night: The RNC's Monday plan to target centrist Democrats: http://bit.ly/92MgoZ
Updated: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:23:21 -0800
@PrestonCNN: The RNC's Monday plan to target centrist Democrats: http://bit.ly/92MgoZ
Updated: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:52:21 -0800
@KuhnCNN: CEO Swap: The $79 billion plan. http://bit.ly/2GcTbS #cnnmoney
Updated: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:23:00 -0800
@PrestonCNN: Tune in to CNN at 10 pm ET to be the 1st to see how the RNC will be targeting centrist Democrats Monday on health care.
Updated: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:46:24 -0800
@PrestonCNN: On Deck: Talking about the Senate health care vote at 10 pm ET on CNN Newsroom with @donlemoncnn
Updated: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:35:13 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP