nless there is a surprising reversal from the courts, Senator Edward M. Kennedy will cruise to reelection this November with no Republican opponent, depriving Massachusetts voters of a debate they deserve.
The fault does not lie with the Ballot Law Commission, which late yesterday threw Jack E. Robinson off the ballot for the lack of 14 valid signatures. Under the law, 10,000 are required; 9,986 are not enough.
But the Democratic State Committee did not need to pounce on Robinson's petitions with such hunger. Part of their avowed intent was to free Kennedy to campaign for Democrats in other states. But Kennedy is elected by Massachusetts voters, and for one year in six his main focus should be here.
Most distressing is the failure of Republicans to field a legitimate candidate. True, state law slights the GOP. Nominating signatures must come from party members or independents, not from voters in the other party. Since there are 1,408,379 Democrats and only 539,437 Republicans, the GOP task is hard. Still, it was pathetic that no one could be recruited to carry its banner, and the party was doubly embarrassed when many of its leaders disavowed Robinson, the only potential candidate.
Kennedy is an outstanding senator, but some of his best work came after 1994, when Mitt Romney gave him a tough challenge. A campaign with no debate benefits neither the voters nor Kennedy.
