Less than 24 hours after the state legislature gave him the power to do so, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick appointed Paul Kirk to the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Ted Kennedy. Kirk will serve in Kennedy's place until after the January 19 special election, the winner of which will hold the seat until the regularly scheduled 2012 election.

Kirk was favored by the Kennedy family, including Kennedy's widow Vicki and his two sons, Edward Jr. and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.).

At the 11 a.m. press conference, Patrick said Kirk, 71, will not seek the open seat in the special election, and Kirk reiterated the remark.

"This appointment is a profound honor and I accept it with sincere humility," said Kirk. "As the governor said, and just so you hear it from me, consistent with Senator Kennedy's wishes and the expectations of the governor and the legislators, I shall not be a candidate in the special eletion for the United States Senate."

Patrick said the decision to appoint an interim senator was made with "the vital interests of the Commonwealth" in mind.

"The issues before the Congress and the nation are simply too important to Massachusetts for us to be one voice short," said Patrick. "The legislature has granted the governor the authority to appoint someone to be that second voice in the United States Senate until the January election."

Patrick thanked the legislature for its "swift action." He signed the legislation this morning and sent a letter to the secretary of state, putting it into effect immediately.

"Paul was the close and loyal adviser and confidant to Senator Kennedy from 1969 to 1977 formally, but ever since really," said Patrick. "In addition he was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1985 to 1989. He is a distinguished lawyer, volunteer and citizen, and he shares the sense of service that so distinguished Senator Kennedy."

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) endorsed the move at the press conference.

"I believe that the choice that the governor has made is completely in keeping with of the change of the law that the legislature undertook and the intent of those of us who advocated for the change, including Senator Kennedy," said Kerry. "This is a caretaker appointment -- a gentle and difficult transition -- a kind of stewardship. And Paul Kirk will be a superb steward of this seat."

In a released statement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Kirk would be an "effective adovocate."

"As a former staffer and associate of Sen. Kennedy and member of the board of directors for the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Paul Kirk embodies the values of Sen. Kennedy," said Reid. "He also has a long-standing appreciation of the issues that matter to the great people of Massachusetts."

President Obama called Kirk a "distinguished leader" and "an excellent, interim choice to carry on" Kennedy's legacy.

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