| | Given that Massachusetts is arguably the most [[liberal]] state in the country (the federal delegation has been entirely Democratic since 1997) the real race will likely be the Democrat primary, held on December 8, 2009. Candidates include State Attorney General Martha Coakley and businessman Alan Khazei. Representative Jim McGovern and Mike Capuano are probable candidates. On the Republican side, State Senator Scott Brown has declared his candidacy. Many high-profile Republicans have declined to run, such as former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, former Governor Mitt Romney, and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. Former [[Boston]] [[Red Sox]] pitcher [[Curt Schilling]], who has [[conservative]]-leanings, may run as an [[independent]], since he is not registered in any political party. | | Given that Massachusetts is arguably the most [[liberal]] state in the country (the federal delegation has been entirely Democratic since 1997) the real race will likely be the Democrat primary, held on December 8, 2009. Candidates include State Attorney General Martha Coakley and businessman Alan Khazei. Representative Jim McGovern and Mike Capuano are probable candidates. On the Republican side, State Senator Scott Brown has declared his candidacy. Many high-profile Republicans have declined to run, such as former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, former Governor Mitt Romney, and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. Former [[Boston]] [[Red Sox]] pitcher [[Curt Schilling]], who has [[conservative]]-leanings, may run as an [[independent]], since he is not registered in any political party. |
| − | Three-term Senator [[Robert Bennett]] represents a state that John McCain won by over thirty=percentage points and is expected to win reelection by a comfortable margin. | + | Three-term Senator [[Robert Bennett]] represents a state that John McCain won by over thirty=percentage points and is expected to win reelection by a comfortable margin. |