Kennedy’s troubles come at a time when the state’s revitalized GOP can produce several strong challengers for his seat. The strongest contender would be popular GOP Gov. William Weld. Kennedy had planned to use the December congressional recess for fence mending at home. Instead, he’ll be in Florida testifying at his nephew’s trial. Even his most eloquent moment in the Senate two weeks ago, decrying the fact that victims of sexual harassment are labeled “sick” or accused of “making the whole thing up,” was undermined by the Palm Beach scandal, “Sounds like Willie’s defense in a nutshell,” said Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr.
The good news for Kennedy is that he is not up for re-election until 1994. And in a state where recession threatens to be eternal, the issue for voters may be whether Kennedy can bring home the bacon, not if he can lead a Senate charge. “We don’t underestimate him,” says Charley Manning, a Weld political adviser. “He’s one of the great powerhouse politicians of our time.” The question is, when does his diminishing stature begin to affect his clout?
