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Keller @ Large: Kennedy Name Not A Guarantee Of Success

BOSTON (CBS) - Just because someone's last name is Kennedy and they're from the famous family, isn't necessarily a formula for political success.

We saw just a few years back, in the wake of Joe Moakley's passing, another member of the Kennedy family flirting with a run and then packing it in when it became clear he didn't have what it took.

This time around, I think there's more to it.

WBZ-TV's Jon Keller Is At Large

Joe Kennedy, my sources in the D.A's office in Middlesex County tell me, had a good reputation there, was well-liked and hard working.

He served his country over in the Peace Corps, and while he's quite young for a congressional candidate, we've seen that before, even sometimes people not named Kennedy have run at young ages and won.

I don't think there's any doubt that his name, his political resources make Joe Kennedy an early front-runner in this race.

But, early front-runners don't always make it across the finish line.

He'll have to prove it out in the street, in debates, in dealing with the media and that's a task that not every Kennedy was necessarily was born to succeed at.

It will bear watching. It certainly has a great storyline to start off with.

But with that storyline and with that famous legacy comes a burden and a standard to live up to and a lot of expectations.

Will young Joe Kennedy meet those expectations?

We're about to find out.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

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