SURPRISE!
I’d bet NOBODY would have seen this coming….
It appears Markey’s campaign started going somewhere the Democratic House Speaker was NOT happy with in dissing the Kennedy ‘brand’….And the young Kennedy IS a House member ….
Joe Kennedy had been way in the lead in the coming primary vote, but has fallen behind Markey in the polls….
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) isn’t happy about this even though Kennedy is younger then the 74 year old Markey….She supports Markey who has worked with here on her Green New Deal push…
Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Rep. Joe Kennedy in his Senate challenge Thursday, a surprise move that could provide a significant boost over incumbent Democratic Sen. Ed Markey as the contentious Massachusetts race comes to a close in less than two weeks.
In her endorsement, Pelosi highlighted Kennedy’s push to help win back the House in 2018 by campaigning and fundraising for Democrats in tight races across the country. The effort helped deliver Democrats the House majority and offered Pelosi a second turn as speaker.
“Never before have the times demanded we elect courageous leaders as today. And that is why I’m proud to endorse Joe Kennedy for Senate,” Pelosi said in a video statement announcing her endorsement Thursday. “He knows that to achieve progressive change, you must be on the front lines leading movements of people.”
Pelosi’s endorsement could be a significant boon for Kennedy as the race has tightened in recent weeks, with polls showing he and Markey, who served alongside Pelosi in the House for more than two decades, in a near tie headed into the Sept. 1 contest.
Still, Pelosi’s move shocked many on Capitol Hill and puts her at direct odds with her close ally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), whose Senate campaign arm is designed to protect vulnerable incumbents like Markey. The speaker rarely weighs in on Democratic primary contests, particularly in favor of the challenger.
A Pelosi aide said Kennedy did not ask for the endorsement. But Pelosi felt compelled to weigh in on the race given Kennedy’s efforts in 2018, “which was essential to Democrats’ successful efforts winning back the majority,” the aide said.
Pelosi was also concerned after the Markey campaign started ramping up its attacks on the Kennedy name, going after “Joe, his family, his supporters and the Kennedy family policy legacy,” the aide added.
“With all due respect, it’s time to start asking what your country can do for you,” Markey said pointedly at the end of one ad, borrowing from the famous quote from Kennedy’s great uncle, President John F. Kennedy…..
image….Larry French/Getty Images for WS Productions
I am awaiting your comment on this DSD……
You also Keith….
Why is this jumping ship? Joe is in the House and Nancy served with both. Markey should have gone to charm school years ago. My guess Nancy doesn’t remember Ed fondly.
Ur no probably right it kinda looks that way…
Ya takes care of ur own first…
But Markey IS a senior established guy one would naturally think Pelosi could stay on the sidelines …..
Chuck isn’t happy and if Joe loses ?
Pelosi has someone in the Senate that ain’t her friend…
AOC ain’t happy Keith….
The Kennedy-Market primary Update…
While the consensus is that Kennedy remains within striking distance, critics are already celebrating the end of an era. “The Kennedy dynasty may be well and truly over,” the New York Post headlined.
“END OF AN ERROR” splashed the Boston Herald, accompanied by a picture of Kennedy….
More…