Kennedy sons want Kirk to fill Senate seat

Members of the Kennedy family are urging Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to appoint Paul Kirk to their father's open Senate seat, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

Kirk formerly chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1985 to 1989. He is also the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, and one of the late senator's former special assistants.

Both Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Edward Kennedy Jr. have already approached Patrick with their suggestion, a family confidant told the AP under the condition of anonymity. It is unclear how Patrick received the idea.

Speculation about the future of the Massachusetts' vacant Senate seat reached a new pitch on Tuesday, after state Senate lawmakers approved a bill to return appointment power to the governor. The proposal now returns to both chambers for final, procedural approval, which lawmakers seem poised to grant by the end of the week.