Coakley says she'll run for Kennedy seat

BOSTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley says she'll run for the Senate seat vacated by Edward M. Kennedy.

Coakley, who picked up nomination papers Tuesday morning, becomes the first candidate to enter the race, the Boston Globe reported.

She told associates she will run as a Democrat in the Dec. 8 primary for the Senate seat even if a member of the Kennedy family enters the race, the Globe said.

Joseph P. Kennedy II, the eldest son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, may be interested in the seat, the newspaper reported.

Edward O'Reilly, a Gloucester, Mass., lawyer, said he is "seriously considering" entering the contest. O'Reilly lost in the 2008 Democratic primary to Sen. John F. Kerry.