Speculation continues that U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) may be tapped to join an Obama administration cabinet. Advisors to Obama say Kerry "could be on the shortlist to become secretary of state."

Since the legislature changed the law four years ago to revoke then-Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) power to appoint a replacement in the case of a vacancy, the seat would be filled by special election to take place between 145 and 160 days after Kerry resigns from the U.S. Senate. It would be the state's first open seat election for the U.S. Senate in 24 years.

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Ben Smith:

Overheard in the spin room

Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift under a yellow McCain sign in the spin room, with no reporters talking to her:

"This is kind of annoying."

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is on track to win Massachusetts by as wide a margin as U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) did in 2004.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) was back in Wisconsin today, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that this time, he was greeted by a much smaller crowd.

As the Democrats' pick for president in 2004, Kerry staged an appearance in front of the state Capitol [Madison] five days before election day that attraced about 80,000 people. This afternoon, stumping for Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, he found several hundred supporters -- including a few holding signs for the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

"I'm excited to be here, notwithstanding that the Boss isn't here," Kerry told the crowd.

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It's an open secret that there's not much love between Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), but for the most part Romney has publicly played the good soldier since losing the Republican primary -- even going so far as to mock "eastern elites" during his speech at the GOP convention.

Now, Romney is joining a chorus of Republican voices publicly questioning the direction of McCain's campaign.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who was a rival of Mr. McCain for the Republican nomination, said Mr. McCain, who has offered scattershot proposals on the economy, should present a broad vision of how he would lead the country through the economic crisis.

“I’m talking about standing above the tactical alternatives that are being considered,” Mr. Romney said, “and establish an economic vision that is able to convince the American people that he really knows how to strengthen the economy.”

The last thing a losing campaign needs is allies second-guessing and talking publicly about the various directions it could go. Is the 2012 hopeful distancing himself from what many consider to be a campaign headed toward defeat?