Brother would be 'stunned beyond words' if Chris Matthews ran for Senate

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

Stop speculating: Chris Matthews isn't running for U.S. Senate. At least that's what his brother told PolitickerPA.com.

Jim Matthews was left with that strong impression after speaking with the MSNBC host when he returned from a two-week vacation in Jamaica.

"There's no hint of him running for office," Jim Matthews told PolitickerPA.com in an interview Monday. "That's 1,000 percent true."

Jim Matthews, a Republican commissioner in Montgomery County, emphasized that it's his opinion -- he didn't hear it directly out of his brother's mouth. But he said his brother was very upbeat about returning to "Hardball" and already had a new contract offer in hand from the cable news network.

"I know there's been discussion about (a Senate run) ... but I would be stunned beyond words if he does anything besides but look forward tomorrow to going to work," Jim Matthews said. "I just think he's recharged."

Chris Matthews potential candidacy has been the buzz of Pennsylvania politics since Election Day. The TV personality's celebrity has had some Pennsylvania Democrats seeing stars and the national media already speculating, and even polling, about a potential clash with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.

Jim Matthews' comments could be a late Christmas gift for some Pennsylvania Democrats also considering a Senate run in 2010. The list includes U.S. Reps. Patrick Murphy and Allyson Schwartz, state Rep. Josh Shapiro, and Auditor General Jack Wagner.

Don't expect to hear a formal announcement from Chris Matthews when he declines to run, his brother said. The commissioner speculated the only way people will know he's not running is when MSNBC or NBC announce they have resigned Chris Matthews.

"What you'll see is an announcement from the network, not by Chris, that he's re-upped his contract," Jim Matthews said. "That's just my opinion."

Chris Matthews' brother has never shied away from talking about his brother's potential candidacy, even joking that he's become his "unlicensed spokesman." He's also been largely skeptical of his sibling's desire to run, saying that he loves his job at MSNBC.

The real drawback if his brother doesn't run, he said, is for the media.

"I think everybody is going to have to find something to write about."

Alex Roarty is a PolitickerPA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

Post new comment

Most Active Stories

Most Popular

RSS Feeds

Comments

Post new comment