Dems want Kennedy's seat filled quickly

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Democrats are pushing a Massachusetts proposal allowing the governor temporarily to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's vacant seat, officials said Thursday.

Kennedy wrote to Gov. Deval Patrick last week requesting a change in state law allowing the governor to designate a successor to the seat until the special election.

Washington Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, have endorsed the measure, The Washington Post reported.

"With so many important matters to be decided, the people of the Commonwealth need two Senators to represent Massachusetts until the special election," said Reid spokesman Jim Manley.

Under the existing state law, Kennedy's seat would be vacant pending a special election to be held 145-160 days following his death. That would mean the state would not have two U.S. senators in the debate on healthcare reform.

If the law is changed, Patrick would be expected to name a temporary successor, someone who would agree not to run in the general election, such as former governor Michael Dukakis or former states

Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, the newspaper said.