RFK’s son mulling Senate bid

CHICAGO – A son of the late Robert F. Kennedy is considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, the latest member of his family dynasty to take a stab at politics.

The seat Christopher Kennedy is interested in is now held by Sen. Roland Burris, who was appointed by ousted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Spokeswoman Kasey Madden said Wednesday that Kennedy was “seriously considering” a run but wouldn’t say when he would announce his decision.

Kennedy’s father was a U.S. senator when he was assassinated in 1968. He is a nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy and current U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.

If Kennedy, a Chicago businessman, enters the race, he’ll be part of what’s shaping up to be a crowded Democratic primary election for Burris’ seat.

At 45, Kennedy is a prominent member of Chicago’s business community. He is president of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., which manages real estate around the country, including Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, a sprawling complex at the heart of the city’s design industry.

The eighth of Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s 11 children, Christopher Kennedy and his wife live in the Chicago suburb of Kenilworth with their four children.