Affleck tipped for politics
Rumour machine talks up a political career switch for movie star, writes Alexandra Frean.
HE’S THE good- looking, Academy Award- winning Hollywood superstar known for performances in blockbusting films such as Armageddon and Pearl Harbor. And now Ben Affleck could soon be adding job of senator to his many roles.
The actor is being touted as a candidate to fill the seat that will be left vacant after John Kerry, the Massachusetts Senator, is appointed as America’s new Secretary of State.
Visiting Washington last week to raise awareness about the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Affleck was asked if he would be interested in running for Senate.
‘‘Well, one never knows. I’m not one to get into conjecture,’’ he replied without quashing the rumours. He continued: ‘‘I do have a great fondness and admiration for the political process in this country.’’
Affleck made his non-denial in an interview that will be broadcast on Face the Nation, CBS News’s weekend political interview programme. His comments that he was not ready to discuss ‘‘my political future’’ have sparked a flurry of headlines, including ‘‘ Actor could be formidable Massachusetts Candidate’’ and even ‘‘Ben Affleck discusses Senate run’’.
Affleck is taken pretty seriously in Washington. The Democrat has campaigned with Hillary Clinton and this year co-hosted a political fundraiser for Elizabeth Warren, the newly elected Massachusetts senator.
His advocacy and grant-making charity, Eastern Congo Initiative, which he founded in 2009 to promote social and economic development in the region, has won him respect on both sides of the aisle, as has his critically acclaimed recent film, Argo, a thriller about a CIA plot to rescue Americans trapped in Tehran in 1979.
If he were interested in fighting for Kerry’s seat, Affleck would face a crowded – and good-looking – field. Ted Kennedy Jr, son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, has also been tipped to run for the Democrats. The 51-year-old investment banker has said that he would be interested in entering politics. Scott Brown, a former male model,who lost his Massachusetts Senate seat to Warren last month, is expected to run for the Republicans.
Kerry’s nomination to succeed Clinton at the State Department was confirmed by President Obama yesterday. The appointment was seen as a near certainty after Susan Rice, the UN Ambassador, pulled out of the running over criticism of her handling of attacks on the US consulate in Benghazi.
Before Kerry can take on the role he will have to be confirmed by his fellow senators, but this is expected to be smooth because he has support of both Republicans and Democrats.
Obama said ‘‘life has prepared him for this role’’ and he was a respected American voice around the world, who would need no on-the-job training.
Kerry, 69, was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – of which he was also a member for 27 years – and the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, losing to George W Bush. He has served in low-profile roles for the White House in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.