AP Photo/ Stew Milne
Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., left, speaks with Rep. Mike Capuano, D-Mass., prior to a news conference on credit card reform Tuesday in Providence.

By Paul Grimaldi
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, appeared with U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy Tuesday afternoon for a news conference on consumer legislation.

But despite being pressed by a group of reporters, some of whom had followed Capuano from Boston, Kennedy declined to formally endorse Capuano's bid to fill the seat vacated by the death of Kennedy's father, Sen. Ted Kennedy.

At a noontime gathering held in the chill air on the esplanade near the Providence train station, Kennedy stood firm in his commitment to avoid taking sides in the four-candidate Democratic Senate primary.

Instead, Kennedy offered up a more general compliment: "We know that Michael [Capuano] is a real fighter for working people; he is just effective in all kinds of ways," Kennedy said. "My family is focused on carrying on my father's legacy."

The meeting of Kennedy, Capuano and Rep. James Langevin, follows former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis's formal endorsement Sunday of Capuano. It's the first time since leaving office in 1990 that Dukakis has endorsed any Democrat for statewide office in a primary.

In addition to Capuano, a six-term congressman, the other candidates are Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, City Year co-founder Alan Khazei and Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca. The primary will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Kennedy, Langevin and Capuano called the news conference to express their support for legislation to cap credit card interest rates at 16 percent. The bill comes as the Senate is considering President Obama's effort to create a new consumer protection agency.