Boston ? The governor should be allowed to name an interim replacement to the late Edward Kennedy’s vacant Senate seat because it would help ensure health care overhaul legislation gets passed, Democrats told a packed Statehouse public hearing Wednesday.

Before he died last month at age 77 of brain cancer, Kennedy had asked lawmakers to allow Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, to name a temporary senator to fill the seat until voters choose a permanent replacement in a Jan. 19 special election.

Senate Democrats, including U.S. Sen. John Kerry, support the idea, in part to improve the chances of passing President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul plan. Naming an interim replacement to Kennedy’s