Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy -- who’s been battling a malignant brain tumor for more than a year now -- has privately sent a letter to state officials urging them to change succession rules to ensure that the state still has two Senate votes if a seat becomes vacant.

In the letter -- sent to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and other key legislative leaders -- Kennedy asks them to change the law to allow the governor to quickly appoint someone to the seat temporarily, prior to a special election.

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