Kerry's Senate replacement

[Bill McBlueState]

If Kerry ends up in the White House, does Mitt Romney name his successor in the Senate? And would Romney be an ass about it and name a Republican to the seat? It would be 2006 (or 2008?) before those of us in Massachusetts could do anything about it.

Obviously having Kerry as President trumps another Republican in the Senate, but I hope there's a way to keep Romney from dirtying our Repub-free congressional contingent from the Bay State.

[SangamonTaylor]

1. interesting, i hadn't thought about that n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

6. not a problem for Edwards, thankfully

Gov. of North Carolina Michael Easley is a Democrat.

[MaineDem]

2. I heard...

That, yes, Mitt gets to replace a temporary replacement until an election can be held.

Don't hold me to that because I haven't looked up the actually legal stuff.

Edited for a dumb typo.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. Sadly a Rethug will hold the seat until 2006 when....

the "occupant" of that seat must run in a special election
to run out the rest of the term which expires in 2008.

Max Cleland should move to Massachussetts and run for that seat.
He'd win by a landslide and unlike Georgia, Massachussetts
respects our veterans!

[ramapo]

4. That's how it works

Romney would nominate a Republican. It's unlikely that the Democrats have a chance of regaining control of either the House or Senate so it sounds worse than it would likely be in practice.

[Justice]

5. If He Can, Romney will name himself

He wants to be a senator/on the national stage

[Bill McBlueState]

8. that's exactly what he'll do

He certainly isn't in his present position out of any sense of responsibility to Massachusetts. What does he care whether he completes his term?

If the law allows it, we'll probably see Senator Pretty Boy.

[Mattforclark]

10. That's pathetic, but hopefully it will backfire

like the Mikulski appointment in Alaska seems to be backfiring. And appointing YOURSELF is if anything worse than appointing a relative.

[Bombtrack]

9. More likely Kerry Healy. She's already won statewide

although I don't know whether she'd want to

[Bombtrack]

7. I'm much more concerned about the right-wingers who'd win the 5 southern

seats being vacated by democrats in all likelihood if Kerry were the nominee than the likely moderate Mitt would appoint in Massachusetts(he'd want someone who could win reelection)