The Republican Party’s chances of taking Sen. John Kerry’s seat have suffered serious blows in recent days, as former Sen. Scott Brown and Mitt Romney’s son Tagg both announced they would not be running for office.
Scott Brown, widely thought to be the presumptive GOP candidate and a frontrunner for election to the seat Kerry left when becoming Secretary of State, announced on Friday that he would not run. Brown released a statement officially announcing his statement, which said in part:
“I was not at all certain that a third Senate campaign in less than four years, and the prospect of returning to a Congress even more partisan than the one I left, was really the best way for me to continue in public service at this time. And I know it’s not the only way for me to advance the ideals and causes that matter most to me.”
When this announcement was made, rumors started spreading that Tagg Romney, the eldest son of former presidential candidate Mitt, would chose to run. He poured cold water on those hopes today, though, by announcing he was also not seeking office. He said “the timing is not right for me” and added:
“I have been humbled by the outreach I received this weekend encouraging me to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate. I love my home state and admit it would be an honor to represent the citizens of our great Commonwealth. However, I am currently committed to my business and to spending as much time as I can with my wife and children. “
Also removing their names from consideration on the GOP side were former Gov. Bill Weld and former state Senate minority leader Richard Tisei. Still mulling a run is Republican State Rep. Daniel Winslow.
The Democrats already have two candidates who have signaled they will seek the office, and run against each other in an April 30 primary. Reps. Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch have both thrown their hats in the ring.
With Brown and Romney out of the way, their path to the Senate just became a lot easier.
— Benjamin Nanamaker, InvestorPolitics Editor
The opinions contained in this column are solely those of the writer.
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