Affleck leaves door open for Senate run

With longtime Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as a top contender to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, one looming question is: who will take Kerry's place in the Senate? Among the names thrown around as a possible successor: actor Ben Affleck.

Affleck sat down with CBS News "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer this week and, when asked about a possible Senate run, it was clear that Affleck has mastered Washington's skill on how to keep the door open without making any commitments.

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Ben Affleck for Senate?

"Well, one never knows," he explained. "I'm not one to get into conjecture. I do have a great fondness and admiration for the political process in this country, it's a big deal for me to come down here and be on your show that I've watched so much. But I'm not going to get into speculation about my political future.

"I like to be involved -- right now I'm really happy being involved from the outside in government, advocating for the Congolese, taking this move that I made, 'Argo,' and it's really become a springboard for dialogue about our relationship with Iran, which is, you know, as Hillary Clinton said, the most pressing foreign policy issue today -- so I got a lot on my plate."

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Affleck, who will appear on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, was in Washington this week to testify before the House Armed Services Committee.

He's an outspoken Democratic Party activist and, in 2001, told GQ, "My fantasy is that someday I'm independently wealthy enough that I'm not beholden to anybody, so I can run for Congress on the grounds that everyday people should be in government."

If Kerry does become Secretary of State, a special election will be held between 145 and 160 days from the date of his Senate resignation.

Soon-to-be-former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., who lost his 2012 bid for re-election to Democrat Elizabeth Warren, is a possible candidate along with several Democratic members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation.

In a poll released today, Brown leads in hypothetical matchups with Reps. Ed Markey, Mike Capuano, Steve Lynch and Marty Meehan, by between 17 and 19 points.

[bs_is_bs]

"Advocating for the Congolese..."

May lightening strike him to paralysis for using the Congolese and their blood.

What a slimy bastard.

[Ben37221]

Your stupidity stink to high heavens. At least he is making an effort to make the world a better place. Any one familier with that part of the world knows that the problems in Congo, as in most part of Africa are great. Ben is doing is part to shine a light of progress and peace. What are you doing to change our world for good? I pray that God's light,goodness and strength guide him and enable him in whatever part he takes. The world need more caring and decent people like him.

[bs_is_bs]

"Advocating for the Congolese..."

May lightening strike him to paralysis for using the Congolese and their blood.

What a slimy bastard.

[tj60]

Legitimate? Joke? People said the same thing when actor Ronald Reagan ran for president.

[sumicat5014]

Uh huh.....Reagan held a BA in Economics &
Sociolgoy, and served eight years as Governor of
California, prior to being elected to the Presidency.

Ben Affleck dropped out of college to pursue film.

[Ben37221]

So did Bill Gate, and yes, Steve Jobs. How well has he done at his chosen profession-great. How well has he done to use the spot light his profession has afforded him to advocate for good and decent policies for the world?
If crazy people like Jim Demitt, Mccanor,Luni Michele Backmann and other crazy republicans who have done absolutely notting to advance the course of our nation the last four years can be congress men and women, at the very least, we can use the light of good and decent people like Ben Afflick to sheld light on the darkness that the republicans have become.

[enaid3]

THIS IS A JOKE, RIGHT??? WHEN WILL LEGITIMATE PEOPLE RUN FOR OFFICE?

[Ben37221]

What is a joke?, Ben is more qualified than almost all the crazy tea party in congress. He is as educated as most of the do-notting congress men and women we have today.
If the course he have been advocating for is anything to go by, then one can argue that he is a man who cares about the greater good in humanity. At least we cannot say that about most of the current republican party who are beholding to Norquest, and the big banks or who see's global worming and science as a mythology. Voting against finacial reform even though it was important to the nation. Right now, the joke in Washington, and the embarassement for our nation is the republican party that have lost touch with common sense. Run Ben, Ben run if it is what you want to do.