THE Kennedy clan casts a long shadow over American politics -- no more evident than in the current race for a seat in the US Senate. Four Democrats are vying with each other to succeed the late Senator Edward M Kennedy but first they have to triumph in the primary on 8 December. Three of those seeking a place on Capitol Hill have chosen to model themselves as the natural successor by emphasising connections with the Kennedy family.
Representative Michael E Capuano, the only candidate with Congressional experience, says his Washington seasoning makes him the obvious Kennedy heir. Electing someone who has not worked on Capitol Hill, Capuano said in a recent debate, "would be to say to Senator Kennedy, 'Your 47 years of experience weren't worth much.'"
Stephen G Pagliuca, a co-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team, has said he decided to run because "Senator Kennedy would have wanted me to".
And Alan Khazei, co-founder of a national service programme, says the Kennedys were his role models. Khazei's latest advertisement opens with the "ask not what your country" passage from John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address.