Kerry: credible primary challenger/win the primary/win the general

[Adlai Stevenson]

I'll say yes/yes/yes.

[Adlai Stevenson]

The things people forget is:

1-Incumbent senators hardly ever lose
2-When they do lose, it's because there's a massive movement against them, either from the party establishment (Bob Smith) or grassroots (Lieberman). I don't see any such movement against Kerry.
3-The MA Reps probably realize this and none are going to throw away their safe seats as a result. Of course one might be as dumb as Ed Case, but I doubt it.

Ed Case did quite well considering; to the detriment of Akaka he also raised doubts about his age.  Akaka won 61%-37%, impressive, but Case would almost certainly have done better polls showed.  Kerry could face Steven Lynch, for example, win the Primary 2-1 but obviously be weakened in the general. 

[Adlai Stevenson]

Why would anyone actually credible in the Democratic Party challenge John Kerry in a primary?

Because he is weakened.  Massachusetts disapproves of him 40%-53% according to the latest Survey USA poll.  Also because there are a lot of ambitious Democratics statewide and in the Congressional delagation; they are partly angry with him for losing in 2004 because they all wanted to run for his seat.  The last open seat election was in 1984; hence there are a lot of Democrats in Massachusetts who want to run for the Senate and have not had the chance.  It would be hard to unseat him but surely someone will consider it.