Ex-Bush Chief of Staff, Andy Card, not to run for Senator Edward Kennedy's seat

Washington, Sep. 11 (ANI): Former White House Chief of Staff, Andy Card, has decided not to run for the Senate in Massachusetts, a seat vacated by late Senator Edward Kennedy.

Instead, Card is supporting Scott Brown the Massachusetts state senator who recently indicated that he was willing to back down to let the former top White House aide run for the seat.

"In these critical times, I know that Massachusetts would be well served to have Senator Scott Brown as the Commonwealth's next United States Senator. He has my full support," The Politico quoted him, as saying.

On Friday Card released a statement clarifying that a Senate bid would not have been "in the best interest of my family."

Card's wife Kathleen is the pastor at a Methodist church in suburban Washington.

Referring to that, Card this week had said that he was interested in running, but that his wife's church commitments could be the one hitch in his plans.

Card, a veteran of both Bush administrations, could have tapped into a national GOP donor base for the special election but would have been tarred by Democrats for his connection to the family, the report said. (ANI)