If the source from the Chicago Sun-Times's Michael Sneed is indeed true, then 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) will be the next Secretary of State, replacing possible 2016 Presidential contender Hillary Clinton. Also, it would trigger a special election in 2013 to replace Kerry to fill the remainder of his term.
Chicago Sun-Times:
President Barack Obama has chosen U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts to be the next Secretary of State, a source has told Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed.
His replacement as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be Democrat U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the Sneed source said.
The Nation (Pakistan):
WASHINGTON - With the embattled US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice having withdrawn her name from secretary of state consideration, attention is turning toward Senator John Kerry, a senior Democrat who is the other top candidate to replace outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to political sources.
Rice pulled out when it became clear her political troubles were not going away and support inside the White House for her potential nomination had been waning in recent days, administration officials said.
It’s ironic that several prominent Republicans are rallying behind Kerry, just eight years after their party demonised him during his failed 2004 presidential campaign against President George W Bush.
The senior senator from Massachusetts is noted for the experience, gravitas and relationship-building skills that could help him succeed as the United States’ top diplomat. In his current role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry has travelled the globe on behalf of the Obama administration to mend frayed relationships. Most notably, he has travelled to Pakistan after a series of incidents, including the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Who will run to replace Kerry to fill out the rest of his current term and likely the 2014-2020 Senate term?
For the GOP, Scott Brown is widely seen as interested in a possible return to the Senate, but the Governorship could be a possibility as well.
For the Dems, the state has a reasonably deep bench, which includes current Gov. Deval Patrick, Congressmen Ed Markey, Mike Capuano, Stephen Lynch, and Joe Kennedy III, State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, 2010 Special Election loser Martha Coakley, and Newton mayor Setti Warren, among others.
CNN on what would happen to replace Kerry's Senate Seat:
If Kerry steps down, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, would appoint a temporary replacement until he state holds a special election to fill the seat after 145 days and before 160 days of the vacancy. If Clinton remains in her post until the inauguration, and Kerry then immediately resigns to succeed her, the special election to replace him would have to be held between June 13 and June 28, 2013.
If Kerry replaces Clinton, Sen. Scott Brown may have an opportunity to win back a place in the upper chamber.
Brown, a Republican, lost his re-election bid in a costly and hotly contested race to Democrat Elizabeth Warren last month. Scott originally won the seat in a special election in 2010 to replace the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy.
If Kerry’s seat is open, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey is considered a likely contender among Democrats. Markey did not run in the special election two years ago to replace Kennedy because Democrats held the majority in the House at the time and he was content with his position as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.