Should KERRY Resign From the Senate if he's the Nominee?

[liberalpragmatist]

That's what Bob Dole did. The risk is that Kerry loses his seat, loses the presidency, and is completely out of office. However, resigning from the Senate has its benefits. As a nominee, he won't be able to devote his time to Massachusetts, which will hurt him. Republicans will point out that he's not doing the job he's been elected to. They'll also organize embarrasing votes that they'll hope to tie him up with.

Resigning from the Senate at the end of the summer would keep the GOP from playing these tricks. He could focus on one thing and one thing only: winning the Presidency. The People of Massachusetts would get someone who would represent them (yes, a Repub), and we'd lose the prospect of us losing the seat if Kerry wins, since, if he resigns and a new senator is appointed, that Senator will come up for a vote in Nov. '04. Mass. could thus elect a new Dem senator in Nov. and we wouldn't have to worry abt losing a valuable seat if Kerry wins.

Perhaps Edwards should do the same if he's the nominee or the running mate. He's not running for reelection anyway, so he could just withdraw in August and Bowles could be appointed, which would let us have an incumbent. The downside is they could view that as a setup and Bowles could lose the race, but it could help him.

[WI_DEM]

1. that is one of my fundamental problems with Kerry being nominee

We lose his senate seat and Democrats are going to need all the senate seats we can get even with a Democratic president. I admire the fact that John Edwards decided to not run and concentrate on the presidency.

[sallyseven]

9. Kerry's seat is not up until 2006.

If he wins the nomination and the presidency he can resign then. Romney will appoint himself because he is just to handsome so he should be Senator. (that his idea). Why should we miss out on Kerry's presidency for such a lame reason.

[CO Liberal]

2. It Depends On The Law In Massachusetts

Kansas law required Bob Dole to resign. But in 2000, Joe Lieberman ran for both the Vice Presidency and the Senate.

[Dookus]

8. I don't believe that's true

Dole chose to resign his seat - he was under no legal obligation to do so.

[Rockholm]

3. If Kerry did resign.....

I believe that Governor Romney would appoint himself to be senator. He was unable to beat Kerry in the last election.

[pmbryant]

7. That was former Gov. William Weld

Romney was the one who was unable to beat Senator Kennedy.

--Peter

[Rockholm]

19. Good grief, You are right. Thanks for the correction.

[sallyseven]

11. Romney never ran against Kerry

He ran against Kennedy. Weld ran against Kerry and was beaten and never recovered. Clinton offered Weld ambassador to Mexico and a repuke blocked it. One of his own Kind. Forgot the Senators name (how fast you forget) He was one of the stupid ones from the south.

[Kat45]

16. That's because Weld's pro-choice, and the national repug party

would have none of that. That's what sealed his fate in politics, in the repub party.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

4. No

[bluestateguy]

5. Kerry

I have been on record here as saying that the veto-proof Democratic legislature of Massachusetss should pass a law compelling the governor to appoint a senator of the same party as the departing senator.

[Rockholm]

6. I totallly agree!!

[sallyseven]

12. Forgive me but those bozos couldn't agree

on a replacement. We have some neo cons in the legislature.

[Exultant Democracy]

10. Well I don't know the mass constitution

but I would be surprised if they could pass a law like that. Now while they may not be able to say who he does choose, they may have the right to approve of disapprove his nomination.

[ShaneGR]

13. Bowles appointment

Does NC have a Dem Governor?

[Dookus]

14. Huh?

There will be no unplanned vacancies in NC. Edwards' term expires early next year, and he's already said he's not running again.

[leyton]

15. Yes, but appointing Bowles may not be such a good idea.

Typically, voters react negatively to appointing a candidate as the incumbent (although I think it's particularly off-pissing to appoint one of the opposite party, which we wouldn't have here). We could, however, appoint someone who was not going to run for re-election, like Jim Hunt (former governor).

[Nashyra]

17. NO

[mlawson]

18. No and yes.

Edwards could, because we have a Dem governor here in NC, who could replace him with someone who would become the Dem incumbent.

Kerry would be replaced by a repuke. And they *might* not beat bush, either. I have grave doubts about just that ticket.