Edward Kennedy

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy will not return to Washington D.C. when Congress reconvenes this week, choosing instead to work from Massachusetts, the Associated Press reports.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port)The Hyannis Port Democrat plans to return to the Senate in January.

"As Sen. Kennedy said two weeks ago in Denver," Melissa Wagoner, a spokeswoman for Kennedy, said in a statement, "he intends to be on the floor of the United States Senate next January when we begin to write the next great chapter of American progress."

Kennedy surprised his party with his appearance and speech two weeks ago at the Democratic National Convention. 

Speaker Michael Busch (D-Annnapolis)DENVER – It is the third day of the Democratic National Committee Convention, but the plane carrying state House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis) only touched down this afternoon.

“I’m excited about being on the floor tonight,” he told PolitickerMD.com, shortly after arriving.

Though Busch has been tuned into the convention via television, and said he was impressed by U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy’s Monday address.

Gwethalyn Phillips, a delegate for Barack Obama, said she was reminded of why she got into politics when she saw Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) address the Democratic National Convention last night.

“I remember when John Kennedy decided to put us on the moon, and challenged Americans to do that,” Phillips said. “Ted Kennedy brought a lot of that back to us last night.”

Of Michelle Obama’s speech, Phillips said that she was “so human, and so incredible.”

Phillips got into politics during the 1960s women’s movement and protesting the Vietnam War.

State Democratic Committee spokesman Richard McGrath: Politicker photo 

DENVER - The appearance at the Democratic National Convention last night of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) had more than a few of the members of New Jersey’s delegation swallowing hard and wiping away tears.

One was Richard McGrath, spokesman of the State Democratic Committee, who watched Kennedy’s short, but almost full-circle speech in the Spotted Dog bar in the basement of the Inverness Hotel.

It was a little personal for the Democratic Party operative, who shared his family’s own Kennedy story.

"My dad grew up in the same congressional district as Kennedy, only on the other side of the tracks," said McGrath.

In a statement this morning, Maryland GOP chairman Jim Pelura knocked Democratic Party leaders and invited their rank and file followers to cross the aisle.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D): Campaign PhotoDENVER - Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) cheers U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) during his surprise speech during the first night of the Democratic National Committee Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

After Caroline Kennedy addressed the Democratic Convention on Monday night, the hall watched a movie about her uncle Ted Kennedy. It had all the trappings of a lifetime achievement award, but Kennedy, it turned out, showed that he isn’t done.

DENVER -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port), who recently finished a six-week cycle of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for a malignant brain tumor, surprised the entire Democratic National Convention as news broke through the day that he was in Denver and was going to address the convention. And Kennedy, the great "liberal lion" of the Senate, didn't disappoint. "It is so wonderful to be here," he said in his remarks after several minutes of uninterrupted applause. "Nothing, nothing was going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight."

A little trip down memory lane given the new John McCain ad featuring Hillary Clinton.

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannisport): Getty Images PhotoDENVER - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) waves to the crowd during day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The DNC, where U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president, starts today and finishes August 28th. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)