That fresh face we’ve been waiting for here in Massachusetts… errr, maybe not. Markey’s been in the House since I was three-years-old (1976).

(Politico) — Democrats both nationally and in Massachusetts are throwing their support behind Rep. Ed Markey to replace Sen. John Kerry in Massachusetts, hoping to clear the field for him in what could become a crowded Democratic primary.

Kerry, whose nomination for secretary of state has opened up a likely special election for his Senate seat, backed the longtime congressman in a statement Friday — as did the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Vicki Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

“As Massachusetts’ senior senator today and as a colleague of Ed Markey’s for 28 years, I’m excited to learn of and support his decision to run for the United States Senate,” Kerry said in a statement Friday afternoon. “Ed’s one of the most experienced and capable legislators in the entire Congress and it would be an almost unprecedented occasion for such an accomplished legislator to join the Senate able to hit the ground running on every issue of importance to Massachusetts.”

The endorsements, made public in a matter of hours on Friday, are a sign that Democrats want to avoid a contested primary. Even without one, the Democratic nominee will most likely have a tough time beating Republican Sen. Scott Brown should he run as expected.