With Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) likely to replace retiring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton atop the State Department, a vacancy is slated to open for the Massachusetts Senate seat. Gov. Deval Patrick (D) will be filling it. Among the names apparently topping Patrick’s list: former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Yes, the guy from the tank.

Dukakis is 79 years old, and teaches at Northeastern University. He would likely be a placeholder until a special election for the Senate seat – but as we’ve seen with Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), older temporary placeholders often end up long-term in the seats to which they are appointed.

Other names mentioned as possibilities include Vicki Kennedy, widow of former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who would apparently be following the lead of Hillary Clinton and Jean Carnahan. She has never held political office.