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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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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.

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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.