Card contemplates Senate bid

NEWTON, Mass. – Former Bush White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card said Wednesday he is “thinking very seriously” about launching a campaign for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Card, a longtime Republican stalwart, said he will announce his final decision in the next three to four days.

State Sen. Scott Brown, who has been mulling a run for the Senate seat, said Wednesday that he would urge Republicans to close ranks behind Card. He said he would drop his own bid if Card opts in.

Card’s years serving in the White House under former President George W. Bush could prove to be a dicey political hurdle in heavily Democratic Massachusetts.

Card said his stint in the White House would both help and hurt him with Massachusetts voters if he decided to run. But he defended his time in Washington, saying that while he didn’t always agree with Bush, he respected the way he made decisions and was proud to serve his country.

“I’m not George W. Bush. I respect him. I respect how he made his tough decisions. I was greatly honored to serve at the White House,” he said. “But if I run, I would be running as Andy Card.”