Mihos weighs switch to Senate race

(NECN: Alysha Palumbo, Boston, Mass.) – In another twist that could shake up two major political races in Massachusetts, hints were dropped that Republican gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos will ditch his campaign to become the next governor of the Bay State in order to make a run at the state’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. Mihos’ communications director Kevin Sowyrda issued the following statement regarding speculation that the gubernatorial candidate may switch his focus toward the Senate seat vacated by the passing of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy: “This race for US Senate in Massachusetts is about the Number 60. The special election in the Commonwealth is a NATIONAL US SENATE RACE, because the 60th vote will be instrumental in determining the future of our country on many key issues of the day. This race will determine the future of our most important deliberative body in Washington. Voters will now have a choice between a Democrat rubber stamp candidate ready to do the bidding of a very left of center president, or an independent, reform Republican like Christy Mihos who will work with President Obama when it’s the right thing to do, and stand up as an independent voice when the president is wrong.” Prior to Sen. Kennedy’s death, Democrats held a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate. The election of a Republican candidate to the now-vacant seat would eliminate the ability of the Democrats to prevent the technique. Thus far, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has entered the race as a Democratic candidate. Other Republican candidates consist of Canton Selectman Bob Burr and State Sen. Scott Brown, the latter of whom is formally “testing the waters”. State legislators were scheduled to debate the issue of selecting an interim Senator on Wednesday. The idea was proposed by Sen. Kennedy prior to his death a few weeks ago.