Survey indicates Markey's gearing up for Senate bid

A poll circulated by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) seems to indicate he's more than just "seriously considering" a bid for Senate, as he told the Boston Globe.

According to the Globe, at least one Massachusetts resident was telephoned by an out-of-state polling firm for a 20-minute survey, which "assessed Markey’s strengths and weaknesses in a potential match-up against Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.)."

Brown is expected to run for Sen. John Kerry's (D) seat, if the senator is tapped for secretary of State, which recent reports indicate is imminent. Markey is one of a handful of prominent Massachusetts Democrats considering running.

He told the Globe on Monday that "when that announcement is made, I will seriously consider looking at it," but the poll seems to indicate he is already preparing for a run. 

The survey also tested Markey against some of those prominent Democrats who could challenge him in a special election primary, including Reps. Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano; UMass Lowell Chancellor Martin Meehan; and Victoria Kennedy, widow of former Sen. Ed Kennedy (D).

The survey questions included ones that seem geared toward testing potential attacks against Brown, including the level of "doubt" a respondent has about a number of positive statements concerning Brown.

The pollster also asked about issues that came up during Brown's hard-fought race against Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who went on to defeat him in November. Those include his votes in concert with Republican leadership, his support from Wall Street and his positions on women's issues.

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