The Republican Party in Massachusetts is courting members of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s family to run for another office in Washington — the United States Senate.
According to The Boston Herald, Romney’s wife, Ann and eldest son, Tagg are believed to be among the potential candidates Republican leaders are considering to run in a June 25 special election to fill the seat left vacant by newly tapped Secretary of State John Kerry.
The GOP is hoping to capitalize on Ann Romney’s prominence on the national stage.
Her performance at the Republican National Convention and on the campaign trail with her husband made her a popular national figure, especially among women voters in Massachusetts.
Ron Kaufman, a friend and aide to Mitt Romney, told the Herald that, “I’ve had several people call me and ask about Ann Romney.”
But Kaufman was quick to note that Ann Romney, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and has never run for office, may not be willing to jump back into a campaign. “The timing is not great, and I don’t think she sees herself as a candidate,” he said.
Others in the Republican Party have proposed Mitt Romney’s eldest son, Tagg.
Tagg Romney is a businessman and lives in Belmont, Mass. He worked on his father’s presidential campaign as an advisor.
Rob Willington, former Massachusetts Republican Party executive director conceded, “Our bench isn’t too deep.”
The scramble to find a candidate comes after former Sen. Scott Brown chose not to pursue the seat. Brown was ousted in November by Elizabeth Warren, just two years after winning a special election following the death of longtime Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy.
The decision of the former Massachusetts senator — a well-liked GOP power player — means Kerry’s seat will likely stay with the Democrats. Brown’s decision has consequently angered some Massachusetts Republicans.
Former Massachusetts State Sen. Richard Tisei put the GOP’s candidate situation bluntly, “Scott caught everybody by surprise.”
Other names being circulated as possible candidates include former Gov. William F. Weld, Former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, Tisei, State Rep. Dan Winslow, and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez.
Incumbent State Rep. and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones said, “Obviously, it’s not what anybody I talked to had hoped for . . . it’s daunting.”
Still, Massachusetts Republicans believe Ann Romney is the one candidate who can raise enough money and collect enough signatures to get on the ballot in the heavily Democratic state.
“That would be a very interesting thing. I would certainly love her to think about something like that” Jones added.
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