Notepad

The Boston Globe reported that the elder Kennedy's two sons and his widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, are all pushing for Kirk.

The Massachusetts legislature is changing state law to allow Patrick to appoint an interim successor until the special election can be held. The winner of that January contest will fill out the remainder of Kennedy's unexpired term, which runs through the 2012 election.

Patrick is expected to choose an interim appointee who has no interest in joining the special election candidate field.

Patrick Kennedy said he believes the short-term nature of the appointment -- a few months rather than a matter of years -- argues for a successor who would not only vote like his father, but understand how his father did the job.

"Paul Kirk falls into that category, no doubt," Kennedy said, adding that the appointee should be a "caretaker to [Sen. Kennedy's] legacy."

But the younger Kennedy is well aware of who has the power to make the appointment.

"This is really the governor's decision," he said. And, he added, "lots of people" could do the job.

The other Massachusetts figure who has received prominent mention as a possible Senate appointee is former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, who was the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee.