BLOOD IN THE WATER? Dem Official: Patrick Kennedy Not Seeking Re-election. “The official spoke to The Associated Press only on the condition that his name not be used because he was not authorized to speak ahead of the official announcement. The decision by the eight-term congressman comes less than a month after a stunning Republican upset in the race for the Massachusetts Senate seat his late father, Edward Kennedy, held for almost half a century.”

UPDATE: Moe Lane:

Interesting that the Kennedy name is no longer sufficient to protect its holders from premature leaks like this. Also interesting that this is happening; then again, his numbers were abysmal. They were so abysmal that GOP challenger John Loughlin might even be disappointed about this, although… no, I doubt it.

Plus, a video.

ANOTHER UPDATE: An explanation.