A leading Massachusetts Democrat attacked the Bush administration while positioning himself as a candidate to replace John F. Kerry in the Senate at the Harvard College Democrats’ convention on Sunday.

Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., who heads the state branch of Kerry for President, urged students to take an active role in supporting the Democratic presidential nominee.

“This is the time, this is the place, you are the people,” he said to applause.

In his address, Markey faulted President Bush on a range of issues including health care, the environment, energy policy and the war in Iraq.

He accused Bush of knowing that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq at the outset of the war.

“No American life should have been lost on that lie, and that’s why George Bush should be defeated,” he said.

While taking questions from the audience after his speech, Markey encouraged students to campaign in New Hampshire and sway voters away from challenger Ralph Nader.

“Talk to people...who don’t understand how politically irresponsible it would be to vote for Ralph Nader,” he said. “You know who these Nader people are. You have the responsibility to educate them.”

If Kerry wins the presidency in November, a special election will be held to fill his former Senate seat. Markey told the audience he plans to seek the position.

“I intend to run for that seat. I think I have a very good chance to win it,” he said.

According to the Boston Globe, several other state politicians may run for Kerry’s seat, including Democratic representatives William D. Delahunt, Barney Frank ’62 and Stephen F. Lynch.

White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr., a former state representative, is rumored to be a possible Republican candidate.

Harvard Republican Club (HRC) spokeswoman Lauren K. Truesdell ’06 characterized Markey as a “liberal Democrat” and said the club would throw its support behind a Republican candidate in the event of a special election.

“I’m sure we would have a strong candidate and be able to support him, but given the senatorial history in Massachusetts, the odds are obviously not in our favor,” said Truesdell.

Markey’s speech came at the end of the College Dems’ second annual convention. Over 100 participants spent the day in Sever Hall refining party messages in small focus groups.

According to Truesdell, the HRC has no corresponding convention for its members, but holds an annual Lincoln Day Dinner in February which attracts over 100 members and includes an address by a prominent conservative.

College Dems Vice President Joseph M. Hanzich ’06 praised Markey for energizing the audience for the final stretch of the campaign.

“I think he did a really good job in showing us as students how much of an impact we could make and why it is so important for us to get involved in this election,” he said.

Hanzich added that the College Dems will not support one candidate in a possible election to replace Kerry. Instead, he said the club would provide its members with information on how to volunteer for whichever candidate they prefer.