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Opinion: Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Edward Kennedy’s son, opts to retire at 42

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The 42-year-old Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island has decided not to seek a ninth term from the itty-bitty state’s First District.

Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died last August of a brain tumor, is the 32d representative and the 14th Democrat to announce their retirement at the end of this congressional term, about 7% of the entire House membership.

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His departure means for the first time in nearly a half-century there will be no member of the Kennedy clan in the United States Congress.

Patrick Kennedy, who was born after the assassination of his uncle, , the president, John F. was a standard liberal on social issues and more centrist on foreign policy and national security.

While he proved eminently successful as a party fundraiser and easily won re-elections (69-24 in 2008), the bachelor’s personal life was littered with problems, including depression and at least two rehabs for alcoholism and addiction to pain killers.

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Kennedy’s departure is unlikely to change the party balance of power, as his Rhode Island district is heavily Democratic, having gone for Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain 65-33 in 2008.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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