Republican US Senate hopeful Jack E. Robinson's precarious bid to get enough signatures to win a spot on the November ballot to challenge Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy was successful last night - but just barely.
The secretary of state's office approved 10,139 nominating signatures for Robinson, who needed 10,000 certified voter signatures to get his name on the ballot.
Robinson submitted 10,342 signatures at 1 p.m., but Secretary of State William F. Galvin disqualified 203 of them and it wasn't until 9 p.m. that the GOP candidate got the news he had made it.
''Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated,'' Robinson said. ''We always kept the faith.''
But the razor-thin margin leaves Robinson with the prospect of being open to legal challenges. ''Past experience suggests that when you have a very thin margin - and 139 is about as thin as you can get in a statewide race - you can anticipate a challenge,'' said Galvin.
Candidates usually have 3,000 to 4,000 more signatures than required, Galvin has said.
Galvin said the 203 signatures were disqualified for a range of reasons, from inexact copies of the signature papers to signers with the wrong party affiliation.
Robinson's candidacy has kicked up a storm of controversy since he emerged in March, with Governor Paul Cellucci's blessings and the backing of the state Republican Party, as the candidate to run against the 68-year-old Kennedy.
Revelations about Robinson's personal background immediately put him on the defensive, and his support eroded. There were charges of sexual misconduct, brought by an former girlfriend, that led to a restraining order; drunken-driving and concealed weapons charges that were later dropped; and charges of plagiarism involving a book he wrote.
In a highly unusual move, Robinson issued a ''report'' to rebut the charges when he announced his candidacy two months ago. However, Cellucci withdrew his endorsement and the state party has rejected his candidacy.
Still, despite his problems, an upbeat Robinson appeared yesterday at Galvin's office with his papers, declaring that by submitting the documents he has secured the GOP Senate nomination. He is the only Republican running.
''I accept the nomination as a Republican for the United States Senate in my home state of Massachusetts,'' said Robinson, who has said he will put up to $1 million of his own into the campaign.
Robinson may face a legal challenge before the State Ballot Law Commission. The state Democratic Party, representing Kennedy's interests, and the Libertarian Party are likely to use the challenge process to block him from making the GOP primary ballot.
''Why would someone want to do that?'' asked Robinson. ''I think that would be very undemocratic and would be subversive to our democratic process.''
Democratic State Party executive director Mark White declined to comment yesterday. But sources confirmed that party officials have already lined up Boston lawyer William A. McDermott Jr., a specialist in challenges to nomination papers, to press the case against Robinson.
Libertarian candidate Carla Howell said she and her supporters would also review Robinson's signatures to make sure he is in compliance with the law. ''I would be surprised if he were not bumped off,'' Howell said.
A spokesman said Kennedy , a 38-year Senate veteran, has no plans to challenge the signatures.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
