WASHINGTON – Financial executives and Capitol Hill colleagues who thought they had seen the last of sharp-tongued Rep. Barney Frank holding court from atop a congressional dais might face him again soon — if only for a short while.
The outspoken Massachusetts Democrat, whose 16 terms in the House officially ended this week, said Friday that he wanted to be the interim replacement for Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass.
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President Obama has nominated Kerry to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state. If Kerry is confirmed, as expected, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, would appoint someone to hold the seat until a special election could be held a few months later.
Patrick has said he would name an interim replacement who did not intend to run for the seat.
With Congress set to make major decisions on government spending cuts and raising the nation’s debt ceiling, Frank said he’d like the job.
Frank told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough the recent “fiscal cliff” tax deal, which put off major decisions about government spending until the end of February, is going to be a crucial period in Washington.
“That deal now means that February, March and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial and economic history,” he said.
Patrick told reporters Friday that Frank “would be a great senator even on an interim basis” and “is definitely on the list” of candidates.
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