Massachusetts AG takes steps to run for Kennedy's seat
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/01/art.coakley.cnn.jpg caption="Coakley has picked up papers to run for Ted Kennedy's seat."](CNN) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, has taken the first step to run for Ted Kennedy's empty Senate seat.
Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Secretary of State, confirms to CNN a representative for Coakley picked up nomination papers for the race earlier Tuesday. Coakley will now have to gather 10,000 signatures by October 20 to be eligible to run for the seat long held by Kennedy, who died last week.
Coakley is the first candidate on either side to officially pick up the nomination papers, but McNiff indicated he thinks other candidates might do so Tuesday as well.
"The day is young," he said.
The move comes one day after Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick formally announced a special election to fill the seat will be held on January 19, 2010. Patrick also said Republican and Democratic primaries will be held December 8.
Several other Massachusetts Democrats have not ruled out running for the seat, including Kennedy's nephew former Rep. Joseph Kennedy, who reportedly has close to $1.8 million left over from his campaign fund when he was a member of Congress 10 years ago.
On the Republican side, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, businessman David Sukoff and State Sen. Scott Brown are reportedly interested in running.
A former district attorney, Coakley was elected attorney general in 2006.
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Martha you are not qualified, you are not a Kennedy.
Those are big shoes to fill, and, whomever gets that seat had better be a fighter and not a wishy-washy figurehead.
I'm not from Massachusetts so my vote does not count. But after seeing Vikki Kennedy in action for a number of years I hope that she reconsiders and puts her name in. The United States needs a goverment that is not always running for re-election. Ted Kennedy had a passion that is not seen in the Senate today. Vikki has the same passion. Propose what you think is right for the country and not yourself. I would never vote for someone who just wanted to be a President or a Senator rather for someone who wanted to make a difference. The Kennedy family made a difference, they gave back. Those of you who speak hate for the family because of their name have no idea. You want to talk about the Kennedy money, is it really any different than all the old money in the US? Any different than Bush family money? No. I hope Vikki Kennedy has the strength becuse she sure is qualified.
Why is everyone saying there is no choice in healthcare? You can choose a healthy lifestyle or you can choose to abuse your body. You can choose to buy health insurance or you can choose not to. You can choose to get a job, or second job, or better job so you can afford health insurance or you can choose not to. You can choose to get free cancer screenings, or you can choose not to. Just because you think you should get something for free, doesn't mean the rest of us do.
We do not need another Miinnesota situation where their state went without full representation for months and months due to Republican interference.
Mass. deserves full representation and it's ridiculous to hold a special election when the real election comes up next year – especially when the real election is for a 6 yr seat.
I think Vicky should step in for Ted. Many.many times spouses have stepped in to temporarily fill the vacant seat. Vicky is highly qualified and would represent the votes and views Mass. elected when they re-elected Ted Kennedy.
How about some civility and decency for once???? Haven't the Republicans done enough already to bring dishonor to the Senate Chambers, which is supposed to be a place of dignity and integrity and honor?
she's a liar and a corrupt politician. ask any lawyer in town who's ever dealt with her and they'll tell you the same thing. she's part of the problem.
Gives one the sense that she is somewhat opportunistic. Personally Capuano seems the best choice. He has demonstrated the ability like Kennedy to cross party lines to get things done. He is also not quite as liberal as the others, so that might be good for Massachusetts in the long run.
Coakley? Lump her in with the others whose names have been listed as possibilities. They're a bunch of hacks and two-faced people. Maybe, MAYBE, Joe Kennedy is an exception.
I wish Mitt Romney would take the position. As far as the Kennedy legacy that was gone in MA years ago.
Hey Martha let the body get cold first. Any may you have terrible luck filing those 10,000 signatures.
For all the Romney (R) fans, and health care haters – please try and keep in mind the Mitt Romney was the author, negotiator, and signer of the current MA Health Care plan. He's recently been quite vocal for taking credit for "getting it done".
wow...the liberals here still haven't learned when they've getting burned...the replacement will be a republican, and a conservative. If not, then Mass gets exactly what they deserve. All you idiots that think a public option is good for the country, and would honor that drunk Kennedy, obviously haven't read the bill. It's a shame that the true Americans have to tolerate such idiots like these liberals.
Go Martha,Just do not turn out to be a Puppet for the Obama Administrations Agenda.
So now the taxpayer's of Mass. will be denied their right to full representation in Congress til Jan. 2010? WOW! What a brilliant idea! I'm so glad we have such smart people calling all the shot's! What an absolute bunch of MORONS! What?! Does the idea of holding a special election to fill the seat right now make too much sense for you mental midgets to grasp? Stop wasting time, spinning your wheels you bunch of unproductve, lazy, do nothing's, and earn your paycheck for once or out you go! Enough is enough!
Is she able to vote "yes" to everything Pelosi and Obama want regardless of what the country wants? Is she clueless about economics? Does she hate corporations? Is she able to state “failed policies of the past 8 years" 57 times a day? Does she think that 1.7 trillion and reform belong in the same sentence? Does she hate Palin, Rush, Hanity, Banks, Wall Street, Oil companies, money, religion (excluding Rev. Wright), guns, and the constitution?
Is she willing and able to vote for policies that will bankrupt and destroy our country?
If the answers “yes”, then she can be a democratic senator.
An Opportunist!
As a Republican, I wish Sarah Paliin could run. That way the righteously angry mobs in Boston could tar-and-feather her and we would finally be rid of this woman who has brought so much misery to the GOP and America.
I love the conservatives who always scream "no" to everything, except when it involves the government keeping watch over our personal lives, a la J. Edgar Hoover. Its also amusing to watch them willingly hand over their free will to group of corporate beaurocrats on the misguided assumption that the " marketplace" will somehow be more moral than government.
Government works when you have the will to make it work: but if you operate with the idea that its going to screw things up, it inevitably will. Conservatives cannot govern because they don't believe in the legitimacy of the institution they run. At the same time, they are functional liberals becasue they still want their goodies: the difference between them and liberals is that liberals are willing to pay the cost rather than lie and deceive( see Mitt Romney).
Why didn't Teddy just put the seat in his Will and give the Senate Seat to his Son or Daughter?
The circus in MA should be entertaining, much like this blog. I hope the "left" (OK, far left) keeps it up. Keep it coming CNN, this is great stuff.
"The suspense is killing me! I hope it lasts."
Idiot Pelosi, you are more than an idiot, you're a moron. If you want to blast Barack Obama and his colleagues, you need to shut up! And if you had just started bashing the late Ted Kennedy, shame on you! Idiots who don't know squat about our current administration! Faux Noise Watchers!
Go for it ! More women needed. The Republicans can remain the Party Of Southern White Males. Democrats will move forward. Just think, not too far in the distance there will be no Republican Party.