Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is expected to appoint former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul G. Kirk to fill Sen. Ted Kennedy's vacant Senate seat later this morning. Kirk has been a longtime Kennedy family friend, and Ted Kennedy's family reportedly lobbied the governor on Kirk's behalf. Kirk will hold the seat until a special election in January seats a replacement for the remainder of Kennedy's term. Frank Phillips, the state house bureau chief for the Boston Globe, joins us with the details of the nomination.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley decided yesterday to run for the Senate seat left vacant after Senator Ted Kennedy's death. Coakley has officially announced her intent to run, while speculation still hovers about whether ex-Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will throw his hat into the ring.  Joining us to go over the details is Frank Phillips, Statehouse bureau chief for the Boston Globe.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that the state will hold a special election in January to determine who will replace Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. But Patrick also said he'd push to see Kennedy's seat filled in the interim. We talk to Frank Phillips, State House bureau chief for the Boston Globe.

For 47 years, Senator Edward Kennedy was a passionate advocate of liberal causes. Today, he leaves an enormous void, which Massachusetts Democrats will have to fill. For a look at who is topping a list of potential successors and why the appointment may be more complicated than it appears, we're joined by Frank Phillips. He is the Statehouse bureau chief for the Boston Globe and has covered the Massachusetts Statehouse for nearly 40 years.