MA-SEN

PPP Poll: GOPer Scott Brown In Good Shape In Heavily Dem Massachusetts

Eric Kleefeld | December 2, 2010, 11:01AM

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

A new survey of Massachusetts from Public Policy Polling (D) finds Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a tremendous upset victory in last January's special election to succeed the late Democratic icon Ted Kennedy, to be in good shape heading into his 2012 re-election bid.

Brown is in front of a number of hypothetical Democratic opponents. He leads Rep. Mike Capuano, who had previously lost the Democratic primary in that special election, by 52%-36%. Brown leads Rep. Stephen Lynch by 49%-30%, leads Rep. Ed Markey by 49%-39%, and leads Gov. Deval Patrick by 49%-42%. In addition, Brown leads Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Ted Kennedy, by 48%-41%.

Brown's approval rating is 53%, to only 29% disapproval.

From the pollster's analysis: "In a sign of how moderate and mainstream Brown's image is, 53% say his views are "about right," something only 32% say of the GOP as a whole. Likewise, 52% think the Republicans too conservative, but only a third say that of Brown. Even 35% of Democrats see Brown's ideology as acceptable, though half do think him too far right."

MA-SEN

Vicki Kennedy In Coakley Ad: She Fights For The People, Just Like Ted Did (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | January 15, 2010, 10:20AM

Vicki Kennedy has released an ad in support of Martha Coakley's bid for the Massachusetts Senate seat of her late husband Sen. Ted Kennedy.

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Vicki Kennedy

Vicki Kennedy Pens Fundraising E-mail For Coakley

Eric Kleefeld | January 13, 2010, 3:49PM

Vicki Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy at the Democratic National Committee in August 2008.

In the latest effort to drum up the Democratic base in the Massachusetts special Senate election, the campaign of Democratic nominee Martha Coakley has sent out a fundraising e-mail from Ted Kennedy's widow Vicki Kennedy, who writes about the importance of keeping this seat in Democratic hands.

"The importance of having a voice and a vote that you can count on in Washington has never been more evident than during this ongoing health care debate. And we're going to need every vote again," Vicki Kennedy writes.

"Ted fought for national health care reform for 40 years. He believed that every American deserved their chance at the American dream, but that as long as an illness or preexisting condition could bankrupt an American family, that great goal could never become a reality. We need Martha Coakley to continue our shared fight for national health reform, to reduce costs for businesses and families and increase coverage in Massachusetts and throughout this country. This race will be very close and we need you to get us to victory."

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MA-SEN

Vicki Kennedy Endorses Coakley, Cites Ted's Work On Health Care

Eric Kleefeld | January 7, 2010, 12:14PM

Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley (D)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic nominee in the January 19 special election for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, was formally endorsed today by the late Senator's widow Vicki Kennedy -- who made it clear that the health care bill is a big issue in this election.

"My husband fought for health care reform for more than 40 years. He called it the cause of his life. He believed that health care for all our citizens was a fundamental right and not a privilege," added Kennedy. "Martha Coakley shares those beliefs and she'll go to Washington to fight for us."

At Tuesday's debate, Republican candidate Scott Brown said that if he were elected he would be the 41st Republican, and said of the health care bill: "I can stop it so they can go back to the drawing board and do something better for Massachusetts." A Rasmussen poll earlier this week gave Coakley a lead of 50%-41%, with the potential for a Brown upset win if turnout were low and Republican voters more motivated.

MA-SEN

Coakley To Roll Out Kennedy Family Endorsements

Eric Kleefeld | January 6, 2010, 5:52PM

Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley (D)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic nominee in the January 19 special election to succeed Ted Kennedy in the Senate, will be officially endorsed tomorrow by members of the Kennedy family, the Coakley campaign announced in a press release.

The group will be led by Ted Kennedy's widow Vicki, accompanied by former Rep. Joseph Kennedy (a son of Robert F. Kennedy) and his son Joseph Kennedy III. Also in attendance will be Rep. Ed Markey, Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn, and interim Sen. Paul Kirk, who was previously a long-time aide to Ted Kennedy and a family friend.

It shouldn't be too surprising that Kennedy relatives would be supporting the Democrat. However, the optics of the event itself could be politically useful, in light of Republican candidate Scott Brown's recent TV ad, which uses footage of President John F. Kennedy proposing a tax cut in 1962. The ad declares that Brown's message of tax cuts today makes him just like JFK, so having actual Kennedys on hand to endorse Coakley could help counter whatever traction Brown might get.

Barack Obama

Obama Phones Ted Kennedy's Widow And Others After Senate Health Care Passage

Christina Bellantoni | December 24, 2009, 10:14AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama called several members of Congress and symbolic figureheads of the health care debate after the Senate passed health care this morning.

The White House said Obama called Vicki Reggie Kennedy, Ted Kennedy's widow, and David Turner of Little Rock, Arkansas. Turner's health insurance was rescinded in January of last year, after his insurance company went back into his record and alleged that he failed to disclose his full medical record at the time he applied for coverage, the White House said.

"Mr. Turner was the First Lady's guest at the President's address to the joint session of Congress in September of 2009," the White House said. "The President told Mr. Turner that stories like his motivate him every day to keep working on health insurance reform, and he assured Mr. Turner that he will continue to work to pass health legislation to ban rescission and other abusive practices."

Obama also phoned: Sen. Harry Reid, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Robert Byrd, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Sen. Charles Schumer, Sen. Tom Harkin, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Roland Burris.

Chuck Schumer

Democrats Elated, Relieved After Pushing Health Care Reform Forward

Brian Beutler | December 21, 2009, 2:09AM

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)

"The die is cast. It's done," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), moments after 60 Democrats signaled, with a single procedural vote, that they will stick together to pass health care reform.

As the clerk read the final tally aloud in the Senate chamber, Democrats, seated at their desks, muffled all of their emotions--enthusiasm, anxiety, relief. Sitting at his desk Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) clutched Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) and Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE)--his colleague on either side--by the arms. Members smiled and softly pumped their fists, but in accordance with the rules, the floor was mostly silent.

In the reception room just outside the chamber, Sen. Ted Kennedy's widow Vicki embraced Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and John Kerry (D-MA). Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, standing alone in the corner of the room, shouted a hearty congratulations to Dodd.

"Harry's going to almost have a drink," Schumer joked about the Mormon majority leader.

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MA-SEN

Patrick Announces January 19 For Special Election

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2009, 3:38PM

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) has announced that January 19 has been set as the date for the special election to replace Ted Kennedy in the United States Senate -- and that he is still pushing for legislation to allow an interim appointment.

The Boston Globe pointed out today that the primary election would be held on December 8 under such a schedule. The winner of the Democratic nomination will be heavily favored to ultimately win the seat.

Patrick acknowledged that the possibility of an interim appointment had been rejected when the law changed in 2004 -- when state Democrats stripped then-Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of the ability to appoint a Senator, in case John Kerry would have won the presidency. But Patrick said he was not there at the time, and is not familiar with all the facts, but that the best way to get the state full representation is through an appointment.

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