BOSTON -- State Sen. Scott Brown launched a bid for Massachusetts’ open senate seat on Saturday, entering the race one day after a prominent Republican bowed out of the contest and endorsed him for the position.

Former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card said Friday that family considerations lead him not to run, saying that Brown has his full support in the senate race.

At a meeting of the state’s GOP leaders earlier this week, Card had been ambivalent about a potential Senate run and Brown waited till after Card’s announcement to throw his hat in the ring.

"I have always thought that being in government service is a privilege, not a right," said Brown in prepared remarks. "This Senate seat doesn't belong to any one person or political party."

Brown, now the presumptive Republican frontrunner, is a Wrentham lawyer who is serving his third term in the state Senate. He won the seat in the 2004 after serving three terms as a state representative.

The only other announced Republican candidate is Canton Selectman Bob Burr.

Outlining his priorities, Brown said that taxes have grown too high under Democratic leadership and he criticized the federal stimulus package, saying that it had expanded government instead of creating jobs.

He also challenged the concentration of power in one party, saying that it leads to “bad government and poor decisions.”

"I’m going to be out-organized and outspent by my better-funded opponents. Even the President has shown a lot of interest in the outcome of this election. Such is life as of a minority party member in Massachusetts," said Brown.

A 29-year-member of the Massachusetts National Guard, Brown has been a champion of veteran's affairs in the state legislature. The 50-year-old currently holds the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Brown has two college-age children and graduated from Tufts University and Boston College Law School.

Editor's Note: Brown is married to WCVB News reporter Gail Huff. The station said Huff will not be covering any political stories or the U.S. Senate race in her work as a reporter. Huff will not be campaigning with or for Scott Brown.

On the Democratic side, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is the only Democrat to officially announce for the seat, though U.S. Reps Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano have both taken out nomination papers and signaled that they will run.

U.S. Rep. Edward Markey also said Friday that he will not run because he feels he can do more for the state in his current position in the House.

"I believe that my leadership positions and seniority in the House allow me to accomplish more for my Congressional District and for Massachusetts," Markey said.

Additional Resources

• Scott Brown's Campaign Web Site