Kerry considered for position in Obama Cabinet

WWLP TV

Updated: Nov 13, 2012 8:09 PM

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) — There is talk that President Obama may seek Massachusetts Senator John Kerry for a new job down in Washington, and if that happens, that would have a ripple effect here in our state.

The new report out by the Washington Post says that Kerry is being eyed by President Obama for the role of either Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense.

“He wouldn’t be a bad choice. He’s on all the relevant committees, he of course has experience in the military,” Robert Thorne of Ithaca, New York said. “But there's probably other good choices that aren't in the public eye.”

Kerry’s qualifications aren’t the only thing that may be under consideration, though. Springfield political consultant Tony Cignoli said that the President also has the makeup of the Senate to think about.

“The public is actually seeing how the Democratic party, how the administration right now, is trying to maneuver,” Cignoli said, “and to also be able to utilize this victory.”

If Kerry were to agree to either job, Governor Deval Patrick would name an interim replacement, and it would also trigger a special election in Massachusetts to fill his Senate seat.

“Right now the balance of the Senate is stately with the Democrats, but leaving that seat empty without a vote, is not good for protocol, not good for Massachusetts. It may also be a problem for the Democrats,” Cignoli said.

Holding a special election carries the risk of the Democrats losing the seat to the GOP. That is exactly what happened in 2010, when Republican Scott Brown was elected to fill-out the remainder of the term of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

With Brown having recently lost re-election to Democrat Elizabeth Warren, some political observers have speculated that he may look to run for the Senate again, or perhaps run for Governor in 2014.

And some voters like Nicole McCormick of Chicopee say they would like to see Brown run to get back in the Senate.

“I would like to see him in there. I think it would be a good shift of power and a good balance,” McCormick said.

As experts continue to speculate about Kerry's possible move, critics say politicians--on both sides--should be focusing on the important everyday issues people are dealing with, instead of strategies on how to maintain political party power.

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