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Ben Affleck Will Not Run For Senate In Mass.

BOSTON (CBS) – Hollywood star Ben Affleck will not be a candidate for Senate should John Kerry be confirmed as Secretary of State.

WBZ political analyst Jon Keller had reported that the Cambridge native's name had been brought up as a potential candidate. Last week, Bob Schieffer, the host of CBS's Face the Nation asked Affleck if he would run.

"One never knows. I'm not one to get into conjecture," Affleck said.

On Christmas Eve, Affleck officially announced on his Facebook page that he would not be a candidate. "I love Massachusetts and our political process, but I am not running for office," he said. "We are about to get a great Secretary of State and there are some phenomenal candidates in Massachusetts for his Senate seat. I look forward to an amazing campaign."

READ: What Kerry Nomination Means For Mass.

Last Friday, President Barack Obama officially nominated Senator Kerry for Secretary of State. If confirmed by the Senate, Kerry would have to resign the seat he's held for nearly three decades. A special election would then be scheduled, the state's third Senate contest since 2010.

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