In a strange twist, Chris Egan, son of former U.S. ambassador to Ireland Richard Egan, who killed himself last weekend in his Boston apartment, may well be a challenger for Senator Edward Kennedy’s seat when the election takes place on January 19.

The son is a chip off the old block and is a solid Republican in a state with very few of the same persuasion.

To run in Massachusetts as a Republican you need to have your own deep pockets and major commitment to getting elected through your own resources, as Egan certainly has.

Party officials in the state quickly identified Egan as an obvious contender after Kennedy’s death was announced. However, it is unknown how the death of his own father may influence Egan’s decision for or against the race.

Either way he will be a very long shot against whomever the Democrats pick.