The most stupid suggestion the Boston Globe had in a long time. [View all]

I missed the suggestion if it ever appeared in the papers, but the idea that Kerry had to be pressured to do his near-endorsement of Ed Markey is just ludicrous. No surprise for Glenn Johnson to make it, but really?

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/07/senate-turbulence-prompts-questions-about-pensions-candidates-confirmation-dates/xwEg1zaGj8FAnAwbQBQXLN/story.html

Kerry’s office similarly shot down other chatter about why the senator took the unusual step of issuing a statement supporting Markey’s candidacy even before there was an opening, and while congressional colleagues like Capuano and Lynch were still weighing their own campaigns.

The suggestion was that, in exchange for the nomination, the White House had pressured Kerry to make an early endorsement, the goal being to clear the field and give the Democrats the best possible chance of retaining the seat in the special election.

One potential Republican opponent is former Senator Scott Brown, who was defeated for reelection in November but stunned Democrats by winning the seat in the first place during another special election in January 2010.

Kerry aides, however, say the White House didn’t influence the decision.

The senator, they say, made the endorsement based on his own feelings, as well as the belief that he couldn’t delay much longer as he readies for what must legally be an apolitical posting as secretary of state.

Bolstering that argument is a key fact: the newly composed Senate is now split 53 Democrats to 45 Republicans, a net gain of two seats for the Democratic Party.

Even losing Kerry’s seat to the GOP would have no material effect on passing Obama’s legislative proposals.