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Ted Kennedy, Jr. is not making an endorsement in the race to succeed his father.

(CNN) – Ted Kennedy, Jr. said Tuesday he has no plans to endorse a candidate in the field of Democrats vying to replace his father in the U.S. Senate.

"It's hard for me to get excited, honestly, about it, because it's a tough emotional time," Kennedy told the Boston Globe.

A recent poll suggests Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley holds a clear lead in the primary battle with more than all three of her chief competitors combined. Given the state's political demographics, the winner of the Democratic primary is heavily favored to win the general election in January.

"People will make the best decision, I'm confident of that," Kennedy also said. "I know my dad always thought that elections were a great time to size people up. He had to go before the voters nine times, and he had faith in the process, so I'm sure the most qualified person will be elected to this job."

After his father's death in August, there was talk that Kennedy, 48, would pursue a bid to succeed him. While he ultimately ruled out that option, the younger Ted Kennedy told the Globe Tuesday that politics might still be in his future.

"This was not the time, for personal and family reasons," he said. "So close to my father's death, it just didn't feel right to me. But I would be interested down the road, when my kids get older, and I feel like I can bring more to the table through my experiences."

Kirk was appointed to the post Thursday, after the Massachusetts legislature approved a measure allowing for Gov. Deval Patrick to name an interim replacement until a special election is held in January.'

(CNN) - A Massachusetts judge Friday rejected a request from state Republicans to delay the appointment of Paul Kirk as the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's interim replacement.

Kirk was formally appointed to the post Thursday, a day after the Massachusetts legislature approved a measure allowing for Gov. Deval Patrick to name an interim replacement until a special election is held in January.

But the legislation was not set take effect until 90 days, and Republicans argued Patrick exceeded his power by formally declaring an 'emergency' and appointing Kirk immediately. Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Peter Sacks argued on behalf of the governor, saying previous rulings have made clear Patrick has broad authority to declare an emergency as he see fits.

Judge Thomas Connolly dismissed the case after hearing arguments from both sides Friday morning.

Kirk will be sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden Friday afternoon.

A new poll out Wednesday has bad news for Gov. Patrick.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A new poll suggests that that just three in 10 Massachusetts voters think Gov. Deval Patrick deserves to be re-elected next year, but dissatisfaction with Patrick as governor does not translate into support for a Republican replacement in next year's general election.

Twenty-nine percent of people questioned in a WHDH-TV/Suffolk University survey released Wednesday said Patrick should be re-elected to a second term in 2010, while 56 percent said it's time to elect someone else as Massachusetts governor. Fifteen percent are undecided.

The poll's release came one day before Patrick announced that Paul Kirk would serve as a temporary replacement for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

The survey indicated that Democrats are split over whether Patrick deserves to be re-elected. Three out of four Republicans and six out of 10 Independents say it's time to elect someone else.

According to the poll, 42 percent approved of how Patrick's handling his duties as governor, and 49 percent said they disapprove of how he's doing his job.

But a majority of those questioned, 54 percent, said Massachusetts would not be better off with a Republican as governor, while 35 percent disagreed. And the survey indicated that Patrick leads possible challengers in hypothetical election match ups.

The WHDH-TV/Suffolk University poll was conducted September 12-15, with 500 registered voters questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

Updated: 4:52 p.m.

Kirk will begin serving in the Senate immediately.

(CNN) - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Thursday he has chosen longtime Kennedy friend Paul Kirk to fill the vacant seat left open by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy until a special election is held in January.

Patrick said Kirk will begin serving immediately, not in the 90 days that the measure passed by the Massachusetts House and Senate allowing for the appointment stipulates. The measure, which passed both chambers Wednesday, includes a provision allowing the interim senator to begin immediately if the governor declares it is an emergency.

"He's a distinguished lawyer, volunteer and citizen and he shares the sense of service that so distinguished Sen. Ted Kennedy," Patrick said. "Paul will not seek the open seat in the special election that's coming up in January but for the next few months he'll carry on the work and focus of Senator Kennedy, mindful of his mission and his values and his love of Massachusetts.

Kirk is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and currently heads the John F. Kennedy library in Boston.

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Sources tell CNN longtime Kennedy friend Paul Kirk is the Kennedy family's choice for an interim replacement.

(CNN) - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will announce an interim replacement Thursday for the U.S. Senate seat left open by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, and hours before the announcement, two Democratic sources, one of whom is close the Kennedy family, tell CNN that Patrick has picked Paul Kirk.

Wednesday two Kennedy family associates told CNN that Kirk, a longtime senior aide to the late Sen. Kennedy and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is the family's favorite to fill his vacant Senate seat – and that the late senator's sons have relayed this view to Patrick. One source said the late senator's widow, Vicki Kennedy, was among the family members supporting a Kirk appointment.

The announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET at the State House in Boston.

The appointment would give Democrats a crucial 60th vote in the Senate as the chamber weighs President Barack Obama's health care proposal.

The measure, which Wednesday afternoon passed the Massachusetts House and Senate,
would not go into effect for 90 days - a period that ends just a month before the scheduled special election for a permanent successor to complete the remainder of Kennedy's Senate term– unless two-thirds of the state House voted to bypass the delay and enact the measure immediately.

Democrats fell just short of that mark, with a final state House vote of 95-59. But Patrick also has the power to declare an emergency, which would allow the provision to go into effect right away.

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(CNN) - Massachusetts lawmakers have voted to approve a measure that would give Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim replacement for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy until a new election can be held - but it's still too soon for the bill's backers to claim victory.

The measure, which Wednesday afternoon passed the Massachusetts House and Senate, would not go into effect for 90 days - a period that ends just a month before the scheduled special election for a permanent successor to complete the remainder of Kennedy's Senate term - unless two-thirds of the state House voted to bypass the delay and enact the measure immediately.

Democrats have fallen just short of that mark, with a final state House vote of 95-59.

Patrick also has the power to declare an emergency, which would allow the provision to go into effect right away. An immediate appointment would give Democrats a crucial 60th vote in the U.S. Senate as the chamber weighs President Obama's health care proposal.

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Pitching legend Curt Schilling has decided not to run for the Massachusetts Senate seat left open by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

(CNN) - Pitching legend Curt Schilling has decided not to run for the Massachusetts Senate seat left open by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

The former Boston Red Sox ace, an outspoken conservative who campaigned for former Republican presidential candidate John McCain last year, told HBO Tuesday he has ruled out mounting a GOP bid for the coveted seat

"Regardless of the amount of support and outreach that's been given to me, it just did not make sense," Schilling said on HBO's "Joe Buck Live."

Earlier this month Schilling told a Boston radio station he was considering running for the seat, though added the chances were slim. Schilling also said then he had been approached by party leaders - including McCain - who advised he should consider mounting a campaign.

But questions arose whether Schilling, a registered independent, would have been allowed to run on the GOP ticket. A recent poll of Massachusetts voters also suggested the former Red Sox star might not fair well in a state-wide political race, garnering less than a 30 percent approval rating.

Republican State Sen. Scott Brown has announced he will run for the seat on the Republican side while state attorney Gen. Martha Coakley, Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, and Rep. Mike Capuano are battling for the Democratic nomination. Primaries are set to be held on December 8 while the general election will take place on January 19.

(CNN) - Two Kennedy family associates tell CNN's John King that Paul Kirk, longtime senior aide to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, is the family's favorite to fill his vacant Senate seat - and that the late senator's sons have relayed this view to Gov. Deval Patrick.

Asked if Patrick is on board, one of these sources said "it is 75 percent there."

On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill that would allow Patrick to appoint a temporary replacement for Kennedy until an election can be held to fill the seat in January. That measure is now up for final consideration by both chambers of the legislature.

Update: One source tells CNN's Gloria Borger that Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy's widow, also favors the appointment of Paul Kirk to fill her late husband's vacant Senate seat.

The Boston Globe is urging Gov. Deval Patrick to pick Michael Dukakis to fill Kennedy's seat until January.

(CNN) - The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would allow the state's governor to appoint an interim replacement to hold the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat until a special election is held in January.

The measure, which won the approval of the Massachusetts House last week, is heavily backed by White House officials, who want to ensure Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate - the necessary number to stave off a Republican-led filibuster - when the chamber takes up a health care reform bill later this fall.

The bill, which passed on a 24-16 vote, must now be voted on again by both chambers as a procedural matter before reaching Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick's desk. Patrick, a longtime Obama ally, has said he will sign the measure and will move quickly to fill the vacancy.

In an editorial Tuesday, the Boston Globe urged Patrick tap former Massachusetts governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis for the post.

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The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to consider a measure Friday that would allow the governor to appoint an interim U.S. senator to serve in the four month stretch of time before a special election is held to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat.

(CNN) - The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to consider a measure Friday that would allow the governor to appoint an interim U.S. senator to serve in the four month stretch of time before a special election is held to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat.

The measure easily passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives by a 95-58 vote Thursday night. While the bill will be brought to the floor Friday afternoon in the state's Senate chamber, Republicans are expected use a procedural motion to delay a vote until next week, said Dave Falcone, a spokesman for the state Senate Majority leader.

State Democrats are strongly pushing the measure to ensure Massachusetts has two votes in the U.S. Senate during the battle over health care reform. With the now-vacant seat, Democrats only have 59 votes in the U.S. Senate - one short of preventing a likely Republican filibuster against a Democratic health care bill.

But Republicans in Massachusetts argue it was Democrats who changed the Senate succession rules in 2004 to prohibit an interim appointment. At the time Democrats wanted to prevent then-Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, from handpicking a replacement for Sen. John Kerry if the Democratic presidential nominee won the White House that year.

While state Democrats have a clear majority in the Senate (35-5), it remains "speculative" whether there are enough votes to pass the bill, Falcone said.

Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick has stated he supports the rule change and would sign the bill if it passes the Senate. Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis is reportedly on the top of the list to be named to the seat should the measure pass, according to the Boston Globe.

Coakley has a commanding lead in the Massachusetts Senate race.

(CNN) – A new survey out of Massachusetts suggests the frontrunner to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy is not even a candidate in the race.

According to a new poll from Suffolk University, 59 percent of Massachusetts Democrats said they want former Rep. Joseph Kennedy to replace his uncle in the Senate. Kennedy, who served in Congress for 12 years until 1999, announced last week he would not run for the seat.

Among the current crop of candidates, state Attorney General Martha Coakley has the overwhelming lead, with support from 47 percent of those polled. Rep. Mike Capuano, who will formally announce his bid Friday, places a distant second at 9 percent. Rep. Stephen Lynch, who on Wednesday said he would not run for the seat, drew 6 percent of support.

In a general-election match up, the survey also suggests Coakley would easily defeat Republican State Sen. Scott Brown, 54-20 percent.

Perhaps among the polls most surprising findings is Bay Staters' feelings toward Curt Schilling - the former Red Sox pitcher who earlier this month left open the door for a possible Senate run on the GOP side.

According to the survey, only 29 percent of Massachusetts voters hold a favorable view of Schilling, while 39 percent disapprove of the pitching ace who was instrumental in leading the Red Sox to the World Series in 2004.

The poll surveyed 500 registered voters and was conducted Sept. 12-15. It carries a sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.

(CNN) – The field of Democratic candidates vying to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy appears to be growing.

Former Rep. Mike Capuano will officially get into the race Friday, his office has announced. Capuano, whose district represents parts of Boston and its immediate suburbs, is little known statewide, according to a new Suffolk University Poll.

Meanwhile, Stephen Pagliuca, the wealthy private equity investor and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, is reportedly also set to jump into the race on the Democratic side. Pagliuca has already lined up a staff and is willing to spend a considerable amount of his own $400 million fortune on the race, according to the Boston Globe.

The Democratic primary for the Senate nomination will take place December 8. The special election to fill the seat is scheduled for January 19, 2010.

The historic Senate Caucus Room was renamed the Kennedy Caucus Room on Monday in honor of the three Kennedy brothers who served in the chamber.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The historic Senate Caucus Room was renamed the Kennedy Caucus Room on Monday in honor of the three Kennedy brothers who served in the chamber, according to a statement by Sens. Chris Dodd and John Kerry.

A resolution introduced by Dodd, D-Connecticut, and Kerry, D-Massachusetts, was unanimously passed by the Senate to make the change, the statement said.

Both John F. and Robert Kennedy announced their presidential campaigns in the room, the statement said.
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(CNN) – Another Massachusetts Democrat is bowing out of the race to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.

Rep. John Tierney released a statement Monday saying he can "best be of service in the U.S. House of Representatives."

"Since the passing of Senator Kennedy, a great number of people have kindly urged me to run for the United States Senate," Tierney said. "Such an opportunity comes open perhaps only once in one's lifetime. I have given the matter serious consideration, and while thankful for all of the confidence shown, today I am stating that, at this time, I shall not be a candidate in the special election for the U.S. Senate."

Tierney's decision not to run leaves three Democrats likely to seek Kennedy's seat: Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley officially declared her candidacy last week, while Reps. Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano have picked up papers to run for the seat.

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Sen. Tom Harkin recently became the chair of key Senate committee led by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy until Kennedy fell ill with brain cancer. 'It now falls to me to pick up the torch,' Harkin said Sunday.

INDIANOLA, Iowa (CNN) - Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat who recently filled the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Sunday that a Senate health-care reform bill would include a "strong" public option and that it would get through by the holiday recess.

He also said it will have support from "some" Republicans, although he said he isn't sure how many.

"I'm ready to carry on [Kennedy's] work, and I'm ready to get a health reform bill passed and to President Obama before Christmas comes this December," Harkin said in a fiery push for health reform during a speech at his annual Steak Fry, a fundraiser for Iowa Democrats.

"That bill - mark my word, I'm the chairman - is going to have a strong public option," he added to thunderous applause.

In a media availability held just prior to his speech, Harkin said he believed the legislation would be able to garner enough support from both sides of the aisle - potentially enough to label it bipartisan when all is said and done.

"We will have some Republicans on our bill," Harkin said.

While reflecting on Kennedy, Harkin called him a "great friend" whose legacy will be tough to live up to.

"We lost a great progressive, a great leader on so many issues...It now falls to me to pick up the torch," Harkin said, adding that he is up to the challenge.
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Massachusetts Republican state Sen. Scott Brown will run for Ted Kennedy's vacant Senate seat.

WASHINGTON (CNN)–On his 50th birthday, Massachusetts Republican state Sen. Scott Brown announced his intentions to run for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's vacant Senate seat.

Characterizing himself as a Washington outsider, Brown spoke directly to the people of Massachusetts.

"Already, my opponents have started pandering to the special interests, promising to support their pet projects," Brown said. "That's not the way I operate. Because I don't owe anybody anything, I'm free to tell the truth and fight for what's right for all of the people of Massachusetts, no matter their political party."

Read Browns full remarks here.

Brown said he has a history of bipartisanship as a three-term state senator and former three-term state representative, and spelled out his "core" beliefs.

"I believe that government is getting too big and that the federal stimulus bill made government bigger instead of creating jobs as was supposed to happen," Brown said.

The veteran legislator made his announcement after former Bush administration Chief of Staff Andy Card, dropped out of the race late Friday and encouraged Brown to run for the seat instead.

Another conservative name that's been mentioned is that of former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.

On the Democratic side, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has already announced her plans to run for the seat.

Kennedy, 77, died on August 25 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. He had served in the Senate for nearly 50 years - most recently winning reelection in 2006.

Kennedy began planning funeral before brain tumor.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Long before Sen. Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, the Massachusetts Democrat had already begun planning aspects of his funeral in anticipation of his eventual death.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Massachusetts, told CNN Friday that Kennedy had informed fellow members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation in 2007 that he had been working on his memorial plans as well as reflecting on his legacy, including the core issue he had championed during his time in the Senate: health care.

"Well, I will tell you about two and a half years ago, when Congressman Meehan decided that he was going to become the chancellor of UMass, we had a little delegation dinner at Legal Sea foods and Senator Kennedy was there and he was in good form, and at that time he laid out for us what the service and ceremony was going to be like," Neal said in an interview Friday with Ed Henry and Mark Preston on CNN Radio's "44 with Ed Henry." "And I thought it was remarkable that the story held. None of us ever (thought) we should trespass on what he was saying that evening. And he talked about his legacy and what he had done, and he certainly raised the health care issue."

Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Massachusetts, announced in the spring of 2007 that he was resigning from office to become the next head of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Meehan's final day in Congress was July 1 of that year.

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Card, the former chief of staff to President Bush, said Friday he will not run for the vacant Massachusetts Senate seat.

(CNN) – Andy Card confirmed in a telephone interview with CNN late Friday he has decided not to run for the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, and is encouraging state Sen. Scott Brown to run instead.

"I had done my due diligence and decided it was probably not in my best interest to run," said Card, former chief of staff in the Bush White House. "I'm disappointed but not unhappy."

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Another Democrat passes on Kennedy seat.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Rep. Edward Markey announced late Friday afternoon that he would not run for the open Senate seat in Massachusetts, opting instead to remain in the House.

"I have had the honor to serve the people of the Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 33 years, and am now the eighth most senior Democrat," Markey said in a prepared statement. "I believe that my leadership positions and seniority in the House allow me to accomplish more for my Congressional District and for Massachusetts. I have therefore decided not to become a candidate for the Senate."

Former Democratic Reps. Joseph Kennedy and Martin Meehan recently announced they would not seek the seat held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy's uncle.

Two of Markey's fellow Democrats in the Massachusetts congressional delegation, Reps. Michael Capuano and Steven Lynch, have both taken preliminary steps to run for the seat.

Attorney Gen. Martha Coakley is the only Democrat to declare her candidacy for the seat that Edward Kennedy occupied for 47 years.

Full statement after the jump

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The Democratic National Committee unanimously approved a resolution Friday honoring the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Democratic National Committee unanimously approved a resolution Friday honoring the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.

The resolution highlighted Kennedy's accomplishments over a nearly 50-year legislative career.

"Senator Kennedy leaves a legacy of dedication to improving the plight of ordinary Americans, the determination to empower the powerless and to end the scourge of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or economic background," a section of the resolution reads.

Related: Kennedy takes with him a time and an era

Kennedy, who died August 25, 2009, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May 2008.

Read full resolution here.