Fueling speculation that his health has declined since his cancer diagnosis last year, Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts has sent a letter to his state's Governor, Democrat Deval Patrick, and the leaders of the two legislative houses urging them to work together to change current law to allow the Governor to appoint a temporary replacement if the state should end up with a vacant Senate seat.  Back in 2004, when the state's other Senator, Democrat John Kerry, was running for president, state legislators enacted a law stripping the governor of his appointment power, fearing then-governor Republican Mitt Romney might replace Kerry with someone from his own party.  Under the current statute, a special election is to be held within five months of any vacancy.

But now Kennedy, the 47-year veteran of the Senate and the last son of his generation of one of the most dominant families in American political history, wants the law changed once more.  Should a seat become vacant, the new law would allow for the governor to appoint a temporary replacement to give the state two votes in the Senate until the election.  The appointee would not be permitted to seek a full term.

The move- in conjunction with other recent developments surrounding Kennedy- has raised speculation that the Democratic patriarch's health may be failing.  He was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer in 2008, and has missed many recent floor votes while undergoing treatment near his Massachusetts home.  But Kennedy was also absent last week at the funeral service for his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away at 88 years of age.  Nor did Kennedy attend a White House ceremony late last week, at which he was being honored by President Barack Obama with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest American civilian honor that can be awarded by the Commander in Chief.

Adding an increased sense of urgency, Obama is said to be considering a visit to the ailing Senator.  Secret Service agents were seen surveying the Kennedy compound, as is customary for secuirty purposes prior to an appearance by the president.

Despite his absence from Capitol Hill, Kennedy has been hard at work behind the scenes on the health care bill.  His efforts to ensure that Senate Democrats have the benefit of all 60 of its Senators- whether it includes him or not- for the final floor vote is largely seen as the motivation for his request to Governor Patrick.