Markey challenges potential opponents to refuse outside money

By Alexandra Jaffe - 01/28/13 02:04 PM ET

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), the only announced candidate in the likely special election to replace Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), is asking for all candidates in the race to agree to keep outside money out of the election.

In a statement, Markey challenged "all of the candidates — Democrats and Republicans ... to join me in committing to the people's pledge upon entering this race."

"If all the candidates agree, we can give the voters the kind of debate they deserve. This election should be a forum for the voices of everyday voters, not attacks from Karl Rove and other outside special interests. This election should be focused on big issues and ideas, not big-money outside groups," he said.

Markey's challenge echoes the agreement between Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Sen. Scott Brown (R) in the 2012 election, which largely prevented outside groups from spending on advertising in the race. Both candidates pledged to donate half the amount spent by any outside group on advertising to a charity of the other candidate's choice.

However, groups did try to influence the race with mailers and organizational efforts, which were not covered by the pledge.

No other candidate has yet announced an intention to run for Kerry's seat, if he is confirmed as secretary of State, which is likely. But sources say Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) is gearing up for a run and could launch his campaign as early as this week, creating an unwanted primary challenge for Markey.

Markey's proposal that all candidates, including any Democratic challengers, sign the pledge, could complicate Lynch's bid. Markey is a far more formidable fundraiser than Lynch, and without outside help, Lynch will have a tough time contending with Markey's campaign coffers.

However, Lynch's spokesman, Scott Ferson, said that the congressman had called for a people's pledge before and would sign it if he does enter the race.

"We're glad that Congressman Markey joins Congressman Lynch in calling for that," he told The Hill.

And it's unclear whether the likeliest Republican challenger, Brown, would agree to sign on to such a pledge. Some Republicans in Massachusetts feel that the pledge hurt the Republican in a year when Republican super-PACs played a large role in a number of Senate races nationwide, and that it handicapped Brown, who was out-raised by Warren throughout his campaign.

--This post was updated at 2:45 p.m. to reflect Lynch's position.