Question from an outsider

[B0S0X87]

Hi, I'm not from Massachusetts, although I am a huge Sox fan, my mom grew up in Cambridge and my family has a house in Rockport... Anyway, I read this article in TIME about how the voters of Massachusetts like Kerry, but they don't love him the way they loved the first JFK. One person was quoted as saying, "We've had our political family for the last fifty years. And that family is Kennedy."

So, my question is how much power the Kennedy family still has. Are they still worshipped the way they were in the sixties? When Teddy leaves his senate seat, will it just be assumed that Patrick Kennedy or one of his cousins will run for senate and win easily?

Thanks for your time.