Massachusetts governor to replace Kennedy
Published:Thursday | September 24, 2009 | 2:15 PM
The governor of Massachusetts has named former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk Junior to temporarily fill the seat of the late Senator Edward Kennedy.
Kennedy died on August 25 after a year long battle with brain cancer.
Kirk, a Kennedy family friend, served on Edward Kennedy\'s staff for eight years and is chairman of the JFK Library Foundation.
Governor Deval Patrick\'s appointment means Kirk will serve in the interim post until voters pick a replacement in a January 19 special election.
However, Kirk says he will not be a candidate in that special election.
The interim senator allows President Barack Obama to regain a critical 60th US Senate vote he needs to pass a health care overhaul.