Patrick mum on people interested in Kennedy seat

Published 5:56 am Thursday, August 27, 2009

WASHINGTON — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says the focus should be on mourning Sen. Edward Kennedy and questions surrounding his Senate seat can wait.

Interviewed today on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” he acknowledged “a lot of interest” in Kennedy’s seat. Patrick declined to discuss names and didn’t directly answer as to whether he thought former Rep. Joseph Kennedy might be a candidate.

Under existing law, a special election has to happen within 160 days of a vacancy and the governor has no authority to name an interim senator. There has been talk of changing the law and Patrick supports that. With respect to people interested in the vacancy, he called that “very personal decisions.”

“We’ve got so much political talent in Massachusetts … in that family and beyond,” Patrick said.