"I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate in the upcoming special election. Over these past few weeks I have given serious thought about the possibility of running again, as events have created another vacancy requiring another special election. I have received a lot of encouragement from friends and supporters to become a candidate, and my competitive instincts were leading in the same direction. . .even so, I was not at all certain that a third Senate campaign in less than four years, and the prospect of returning to a Congress even more partisan than the one I left, was really the best way for me to continue in public service at this time."
This has to be a disappointment for Republicans, especially Senate Republicans, who had encouraged the picking of Kerry to be Secretary of State (and quickly confirmed him) because they thought Brown could win the senate seat. In fact, recent polls showed him with a small lead over the Democrats who are running. Brown wasn't assured of winning the June special election, but he probably was the GOP's best chance of taking the seat in the heavily Democratic state.
Some Republicans are now tossing around the names of former-Governor William Weld and former-Lt. Governor Kerry Healey. Now the heavy favorite to win the seat (and run for re-election in 2014) will be the winner of the Democratic primary on April 30th. So far, two representatives have declared their candidacy, and will face off in that primary -- Rep. Ed Markey and Rep. Stephen Lynch.
I don't know which of those two Democrats will come out on top, but the important thing is that it is now very likely that the Democrats will hold their current 55-45 advantage in the Senate (with Independents Sanders and King caucusing with the Democrats) -- and that's very good news.
hopefully someone at Dem. head quarters has a roll of film of him and a cheerleader and a farm animal.
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