Ted Kennedy Jr. For Connecticut Senator?

First Susan Bysiewicz, the Connecticut Secretary of State, got in the U.S. Senate race there against Joe Lieberman. Then Lieberman called it a career. Then Congressman Chris Murphy got in the race. With talk of still others having interest, this was shaping up as one of the most exciting races of the next election cycle. Now, a giant of a name is looking at the race.

Rumors put Ted Kennedy Jr. interested in replacing Senator Lieberman in 2013. In fact, they say he was seen with former Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd in the cafe at the Russell Senate Office Building. To say the least, this is a major, major development in this race. Kennedy would likely be a star with the left and a fundraising giant. Considering that neither Murphy or Bysiewicz have the considerable electoral prowess of Senator Blumenthal, who replaced Dodd and beat back the self-funding Linda McMahon, a giant personality like Kennedy may make a lot of sense. At the same time, unlike either of them, Kennedy has never won an election. This makes for an interesting race, and could lead to a highly spirited primary.

Yesterday marked 50 years since the JFK Inauguration. It was also the first time in even longer that no Kennedy was serving in federal office. As I write this, rumors are out there about Vicki Kennedy or Joe Kennedy running against Scott Brown in 2012 for the Massachusetts Senate seat. There is talk that if Senator Jack Reed were to join the Obama Cabinet (as Defense Secretary most likely), Patrick Kennedy could return to office as his replacement as the U.S. Senator from Rhode Island. Now, talk about Ted Kennedy Jr. Perhaps it's not the end of the line for the political dynasty from Cape Cod.