New England's Newbie Senators

Here's a shocker: if/when John Kerry becomes Secretary of State, Jack Reed will be 2nd in seniority among New England Senators. Number one, of course, is Pat Leahy -- now the longest-serving of all current Senators, following the death yesterday of Daniel Inouye.

Third will be Susan Collins, who like Reed entered the Senate in 1997.

And then -- 4th and 5th will be Bernie Sanders & Sheldon Whitehouse, both sworn in 2007.

Wow.

After that comes 6) Jeanne Shaheen, 2009; 7) Richard Blumenthal, 2011; 8) Kelly Ayotte, 2011; 9) Elizabeth Warren, 2013; 10) Chris Murphy, 2013; 11) Angus King, 2013; 12) next Massachusetts Senator, 2013.