In Boston, Curt Schilling will always be a hero for helping the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series and ending the “Curse of the Bambino.” But that’s not enough for Massachusetts voters to think he belongs in the U.S. Senate.

Just 26% of voters statewide think that Schilling should compete in the special election to replace the late Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy.

Fifty-three percent (53%) say he should not run while 21% are undecided. Republicans are evenly divided on a Schilling campaign. Democrats, by a seven-to-one margin, say he should not run.

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Just 34% of Massachusetts voters say they’re even somewhat likely to vote for Schilling. Most (54%) say they’re not likely to do so. Those figures include only 16% who say they’re Very Likely to vote for the retired pitcher and 30% who are Not at All Likely to do so.

Twenty-six percent (26%) of voters say he’s qualified to serve in the Senate while 46% say he’s not.

Schilling campaigned for President George W. Bush in 2004 and supported John McCain in 2008.

Democrats are heavily favored to win the race to replace Kennedy in the Senate. A special election has been scheduled for January 19. Party primaries will be held on December 8. State Attorney General Martha Coakley is the early leader in the Democratic race.

Massachusetts voters now are evenly divided about changing the law so that the governor can appoint an interim replacement for Kennedy, a drop in support for the idea since last month.

Schilling pitched one of the most memorable games during the Red Sox run in 2004 to defeat the New York Yankees in game six of the American League Championship Series. He pitched despite an injured ankle that soaked his sock with blood before the game was over.

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