Add Rep. Edward J. Markey to the list of politicians skipping a run for the late Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat.
Markey, a 17-term veteran of the House and the dean of Massachusetts' congressional delegation, cited his seniority as a the reason he chose to forego the race.
He heads the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming; the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment; and serves on the Natural Resources Committee. "I can have the greatest impact on the issues facing the people of our state through my leadership positions in the House," Markey said in a Friday afternoon statement.
He joins former Rep. Martin T. Meehan, Kennedy nephew Joseph P. Kennedy II and former Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey on the sidelines.
The Democratic primary, set for Dec. 8, will likely be the deciding election, given the state's strong Democratic tendencies.
Markey came in second to Attorney General Martha Coakley in a Sept. 8 Rasmussen Reports survey looking at the prospective Democratic field. Markey's solid if not spectacular name recognition and $2.9 million in campaign cash would have given him an edge over the rest of the Massachusetts House Democrats mulling a race.
Coakley is the first Democrat officially in the race.
Reps. Michael E. Capuano and Stephen F. Lynch remain likely but undeclared candidates for the seat. Rep. John F. Tierney has also expressed interest in a run.
On the Republican side, state Sen. Scott Brown, former U.S Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card are still considering the race. Former Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling has also confirmed he is interested, but would have to run as an Independent since his not registered with a party.
CQ Politics rates the general election Democratic Favored.
![[ARCHIVES]](http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/templates/images/archives_icon.png){kind=icon}
Post A Comment