"Ted Kennedy is a man of tremendous courage, remarkable strength, and powerful spirit." - President Bush
"Every one of us knows what a big heart this fellow has. This guy is one unbelievable fighter . . . He's in a fighting mood." - Senator John F. Kerry
"Ted Kennedy's courage and resolve are unmatched, and they have made him one of the greatest legislators in Senate history." - Senator Hillary Clinton
"Senator Kennedy has been a fighter for his entire life, and I have no doubt that he will fight as hard as he can to get through this." - Senator Barack Obama
". . . On numerous occasions, I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate, and I have held that view." - Senator John McCain
"You don't have time and enough tape for all the different ways in which Ted Kennedy has, and continues to be, important to Massachusetts." - Governor Deval Patrick
"I have faith that my friend will come through this with the same courage he has demonstrated throughout his life." - Mayor Thomas M. Menino
"He is still our senator, and any talk about a successor is insensitive, outrageous, and wrong." - Therese Murray, president, Massachusetts Senate
"I know I speak for all my colleagues in the House when I say we are right behind Ted Kennedy in this fight and, like most other fights in his life, I'm certain he will come out victorious." - Massachusetts Speaker Salvatore DiMasi
"I don't want anybody succeeding Ted Kennedy. Ever. . . . He can beat this. And he will. Somebody someday will have his seat, but no one will take his place." - Philip Johnston, former chairman of the state Democratic Party
"I don't think you can think of Massachusetts politics without Ted Kennedy at the top of the heap. And I hope we don't have to for some time to come." - Mitt Romney, former governor
"We [the Red Sox] just had a pitcher last night [Monday] throw a no-hitter who came back from cancer. Why? Because of incredible advances in medical technology because of Ted Kennedy. We can look forward to Ted Kennedy throwing political no-hitters in the future." - Representative Edward J. Markey
"It's been a roller coaster. We got bad news on Saturday, it was looking good Sunday. This, today, is a double punch." - Representative Barney Frank
