A close friend and former staffer to Ted Kennedy who has the Kennedy family's backing is expected to be announced to succeed the fallen liberal lion in the Senate tomorrow. Paul Kirk has said he would keep Kennedy's staff. The Massachusetts state legislature voted yesterday to allow Governor Deval Patrick to appoint an interim senator until the special election in January. Kirk, a former DNC chair, has indicated he would try to vote the way his predecessor would have. [Major Garrett/Twitter, Boston Herald]