Two potential candidates have already said they will not run or seek to be appointed: Rep. Barney Frank and Ted Kennedy's wife, Vicki Kennedy. The powerful representative said he does not want to leave his post as chairman of the Financial Services Committee, while Kennedy's widow, who he reportedly wanted to take his seat, said she would not be interested.
Some think former presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis will be tapped as a potential interim senator—TNR Senior Editor Jason Zengerle is even willing to place money on it.
The seat could also fall to another Kennedy--it's been in the family for 57 years--if Joseph Kennedy is picked for the spot. The former congressman could tout both his legislative experience and the $1.7 million in his federal campaign fund.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has been mentioned as a potential choice for the seat. Coakley is the first woman attorney general in the state, and won her 2006 race by a margin of 73 percent to 27 percent. She has also conducted recent polls about the viability of a senate run.
Representative Stephen Lynch is also considered a potential front-runner and would likely rely on his support from blue-collar workers and labor unions.
Representative Michael A. Capuano declined to comment Wednesday on whether he would run for Kennedy's senate seat, telling a local TV station that "[t]oday is not the day to talk about those things for me." If he does run, Capuano has $1.2 million in his House campaign account.
Representative Edward J. Markey might have a good chance if he ran for the senate seat: He is the best-funded of the Massachusetts representatives and chairs the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, as well as the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Representative Bill Delahunt, a friend and colleague of Kennedy's, has been mentioned as a possible successor. After Kennedy's death, Delahunt issued a statement calling Kennedy "the greatest and hardest working senator of our time." He has not signaled plans to run for the senate seat.
Some think Representative James McGovern could consider a run for the senate seat. McGovern greatly admired Kennedy, and shortened a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan so he could fly back to attend Kennedy's funeral.
Click here to read Jonathan Cohn on the example Democrats should take from Kennedy.
Click here to see a handy chart of what will happen if Chris Dodd decides to replace Kennedy on the Senate health committee.
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