Does Meehan know something about Kerry and 2008 or is he just hoping?

[Mass]

The media have been full of Meehan's warchest since yesterday ($4.9 millions for his reelection in Lowell). It is clear that Meehan is aiming at Kerry's seat in case Kerry does not run in 2008.

My only question: does he know something or is he just hoping that the opening that most MA Congresspeople are hoping is going to happen?

TayTay, what do you think? (Of course, they are calling him an hypocrit, just like they did for Kerry, but what is new?).

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/08/meehan_defends_49_million_warchest/

Meehan defends $4.9 million warchest

By Andrew Miga, Associated Press Writer | March 8, 2006

WASHINGTON --Rep. Martin Meehan says he sees nothing hypocritical in acting as a leading campaign finance reform advocate while amassing a $4.9 million campaign account, more than any other House member.
Article Tools

"I've always believed that being an advocate for campaign finance reform did not mean that I couldn't be aggressive and competitive," the Massachusetts Democrat said on Wednesday. "I don't think it is inconsistent at all."

Meehan has emerged as one of the most prolific fundraisers in the House. At the same time, the seven-term congressman has basked in the national spotlight as a prime sponsor of a landmark campaign finance reform measure along with more well-known lawmakers such as Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

...

Meehan now jokingly dubs it "the imaginary Senate race." But he has not abandoned those ambitions. He said if Kerry ever resigns the Senate, he would seriously consider running.

"It's certainly something I'd consider," he said. "The reality is John Kerry is looking to run for president again ... He may run, he may not."

[rox63]

1. Meehan has had a huge war chest for years

He's had a couple of elections in a row where he was unopposed, so he hasn't had to spend much. Plus, it's no secret that he (and half the MA House delegation) would jump at the chance to run for the Senate.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Interesting

I hope Kerry doesn't retire for a long time.

[TayTay]

3. It is no secret that Marty covets Kerry's Senate seat.

I was polled by phone in Sept of '04 on that. ("If Sen. Kerry is elected Pres, who would you be in favor of in a Dem primary for that Senate seat." I answered Martha Coakley because we don't have any high-ranking Dem Women who were being considered and that pissed me off. Seriously, I wish sometimes Massachusetts was a liberal state and had liberal values and elected women to high office. Sigh!)

Marty obviously covets that Senate seat. He will get his answer on whether or not it is up for grabs in 12-15 months. Till then, he can keep rolling in the money. A Senate primary in MA would cost, according to the Globe between $15 -20 million. (Primary, people, primary) and would be the most fun you could have with your pants on, as Saturday Night Live once remarked on something else. It has been more than twenty years since we had a no-holds barred Dem primary for a open Senate seat. That would be cool, except, ahm, I would then miss Sen. Kerry. (I am a big cry-baby and would, ahm, miss him as my Senator. He is rather a unique figure in Mass and there aren't any more at home like him. So sue me, I would miss him.)

Can you even imagine how much fun that would be Mass, or Rox or Whome or anyone else with Massachusetts ties? OMG! Every office holder in the Commonwealth would declare, initially, for that race. There would 8-12 people who would jump in, then it would go down to about 4 serious contenders by around March, then it would be a knock-down drag out fight until September and then a fun General Election in which the winner would scare the shit out of the good people of Massachusetts by reminding them that we cannot have a Rethug Senator as the State would implode and the heavens would fall and the earth would open up and swallow us whole. I mean really, doesn't that sound like fun to you?