King Is In

In the new issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print and online today -- I write about the state of the Massachusetts Senate primary race, which appears to be narrowing rapidly to Elizabeth Warren chase by Alan Khazei.

But wait! I can now report that attorney James Coyne King will formally announce his entry into the race early next week.

King, president and co-founder of the Murphy & King law firm, has been exploring a campaign for some months; I blogged about him in July. That process "culminated with listening to [last Tuesday's] debate, and not hearing any ideas about moving the Commonwealth forward,"says King spokesperson Timothy Egan.

King has never held elected office -- he served in President Jimmy Carter's Justice Department long ago, and has been active in a number of circles over the years. I'm told he has a pretty strong network to tap into for fundraising, but it's hard to say whether that will translate into Khazei-level money, let along Warren's multi-millions.

My impression is that King will run as a more centrist alternative for the Democratic nomination; he has some position papers I will soon get a chance to look through. (His web site at the moment is essentially just a placeholder.) Expect a formal announcement Monday or Tuesday.