Bob Kennedy's son to run for Obama's Illinois Senate seat

Chicago (US), May 21 (ANI): Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, will run for the Illinois Senate seat that was once occupied by President Barack Obama.

Kennedy's pollster John Anzalone confirmed to Politico that Kennedy will soon be entering the race, joining a Democratic primary against state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and, possibly, Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.).

For his part, Kennedy told Lynn Sweet Tuesday night: "I'm keeping my options alive and working through a whole series of issues still."

Kennedy is the president of the real estate firm Merchandise Mart Properties, and has the resources to at least partially self-finance a campaign.

A Giannoulias-Kennedy primary would be one of the most closely watched in the country, with two powerful names and fundraisers clashing against each other.

According to the Chicago Sun, Kennedy's decision to run also suggests that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan won't be running for the Senate, and instead has her eyes on the governor's race. The only way Madigan would change her plans to run for governor is if Democrats cleared the primary field for her, and Kennedy's entrance rules that possibility out. (ANI)