f ever there were a sign that Joseph P. Kennedy II, the former Massachusetts congressman, might be pulled into the 2002 race for governor, it came during a brief clash Thursday with Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift over state financing of a child hunger program.
The tiff overshadowed a news conference at Massachusetts General Hospital that was supposed to be about the Cellucci-Swift administration's concerns about child hunger in the Bay State, and how it helps to fight the problem through its financing of Project Bread, a nonprofit hunger relief organization.
Instead, the sharp exchange quickly raised questions about whether Kennedy is once again interested in running for governor.
After receiving a lot of negative media coverage from his ex-wife's published account of their marriage, and from his late brother Michael's alleged sexual involvement with a teenage family babysitter, he decided in 1997 not to run for governor the following year. Later, he decided not to seek reelection to his congressional seat, instead returning to run his Citizens Energy Corp., a nonprofit he founded in 1979 to sell low-cost heating fuel to the poor.
Although he has not officially ruled out a future run, Kennedy has maintained a relatively low public profile until last week.
The exchange began when a reporter asked Swift if the administration would spend an additional $4 million for a school breakfast program. Project Bread is seeking the additional $4 million for a program that offers free breakfasts to all children, regardless of income, as a means of eliminating any stigma on the poor.
Although the administration financed similar requests in the past, Swift was noncommittal. Moments later, Kennedy interrupted another speaker to sharply criticize the Cellucci-Swift administration for making changes in welfare regulations which he believes contributed to child hunger.
Kennedy said to Swift, ''You can't just go around saying, `We cut these programs,''' ... ''and then come back and say, `Listen, that's fine, we'll sign up for the initiative.'''
Swift responded that the administration has been supportive of Project Bread. But Kennedy, not satisfied with her response, challenged Swift to give a simple yes or no answer to whether the breakfast program would be financed. She would not, saying only that the administration funded other child hunger programs and that it continues to be committed to them.
While Kennedy received some criticism in the media for his challenge - including references to past temper flare-ups - people who know him saw something positive in his remarks.
By raising the questions he did, say people familiar with him, Kennedy was pointing up what he sees as the hypocrisy of the Cellucci-Swift administration. And that, says Paul Davis, a former district director for Kennedy, ''is an example of Joe's strength.''
''He has drawn attention to an issue that involves poor children, where there has been very little focus from the governor's office for the past 10 years,'' says Davis.
Davis said that Kennedy was not thinking about running for governor when he raised this issue. ''He was simply following his instincts on issues important to him. And Joe is at his best when he follows his own instincts.''
After the exchange, Project Bread director Ellen Parker promptly ended the press conference, but emotions were still running high. Swift asked Kennedy, who was standing nearby, ''Is that you beginning your campaign?'' To which Kennedy promptly responded, ''No, it wasn't.''
Asked later by reporters if he plans to run for governor in two years, he said only that he enjoys working at his Citizens Energy Corp. oil program for the needy - an answer that clearly did not rule out a run.
Perhaps Kennedy has not yet decided his political future, but he left little doubt that he is unhappy with the Cellucci-Swift administration's handling of issues important to him. Earlier this year, there were reports of an exchange Kennedy had with the administration over its handling of prescriptions for the poor and the elderly.
If Kennedy decides to run for governor in two years, his reasons will have less to do with his ability to win - and early polls are encouraging - and more to do with his displeasure with the Cellucci-Swift administration's policies toward poor children, low-income adults, and the elderly.
Also unknown, of course, is whether Cellucci or Swift will themselves be seeking the governorship. If George W. Bush wins the presidency, it is likely Cellucci would be tapped to go to Washington. Swift's political future may be complicated by the fact that, as she acknowledged Friday, she is pregnant with twins - although she said she would continue to serve as lieutenant governor while her husband tends to their children.
Nobody who knows Kennedy can discern what his current thoughts are about a gubernatorial race. Thus, there is little clarity for other potential Democratic gubernatorial contenders such as US Representative Martin Meehan, Secretary of State William Galvin, state Senate President Thomas F. Birmingham, House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, or Steve Grossman, former chairman of the Democratic National Party.
A recent poll also showed that Kennedy would defeat Cellucci in a gubernatorial matchup if the race were held today. There is also a possibility that Mitt Romney, who lost his senatorial bid to US Senator Edward M. Kennedy six years ago, or some other prominent Republican, may seek the GOP nomination for governor if Cellucci bows out or appears too vulnerable against a Democratic contender. Whoever the GOP nominee may be, Kennedy may be compelled to run if their policies are similar to Cellucci's.
In essence, Cellucci can do himself a lot of good by changing his administration's policies toward poor children, impoverished adults, and the elderly. If not, he could end up facing Kennedy in November 2002. If so, Cellucci can only thank himself and Swift for making it happen.
Robert A. Jordan is a Globe columnist.
