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Robert Kennedy Jr. has told New York Gov. David Paterson he is not interested in being appointed to the seat that will be vacated by Senator Hillary Clinton (and the same seat once held by his father) if she is confirmed as the next Secretary of State, the New York Times reports. Kennedy has been among a lengthy list of names being circulated and he becomes the second to publicly bow out, joining Rep. Nita Lowey who yesterday said she was not interested. Paterson is reportedly interested in tapping someone from upstate New York, a woman or an Hispanic for the seat.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and activist, said he’s happy doing what he’s doing right now. “I have spent lots of time thinking about it,” he told the Times. “I have spent time talking with my uncle, by brothers, my cousin and, of course, my wife. And I think I’m in a good position right now doing what I’m doing.”

Sen. Edward Kennedy, who recently underwent surgery and chemotherapy to combat a malignant brain tumor, taped a five-minute video this weekend at his home on Cape Cod. The video, the Associated Press reports, is meant to be shown at the Democratic National Convention. Kennedy has been little seen since his May 17th seizure, though he did cast a vote on Medicare in July on the Senate floor.

In other convention-related news, Democrats this weekend completed a 44-page draft of the Democratic platform. The Denver Post reports that the proposed statement of party principles "reinforces Obama's theme of change but acknowledges Clinton's differing view on health-care reform and her supporters' desire to blast sexism in the media."

The document, which was drafted in Cleveland, now goes to the 186-member platform committee, who are meeting this weekend; it must be approved by the time the convention begins later this month.

The Post reports that Democrats stressed party unity this weekend while working on the platform and played down any rifts between Obama and Clinton supporters. On health care, where Clinton and Obama's plans differed, the language added to the platform was this: "While there are differing approaches within the party about how best to achieve the commitment of universal coverage, we stand united to achieve this fundamental objective through the legislative process."

The Obama campaign released a statement saying "Sen. Clinton has been working with us on drafting the platform, and the Democratic Party is unified to bring about the real change we need" on the economy, education, energy, and health care.

The draft platform has much harsher language on the Iraq war than the 2004 version, dubbing it an "ill-considered" "strategic blunder." The sexism-related section reads in part: "...standing up for our country means standing up against sexism, whether voiced by the media, our opponents or our friends."

We've seen some big moments on this primary campaign over the past several days but don't let yourself be fooled – the biggest is yet to come. Each day brings some new moment assured to "change the course of the campaign."

An endorsement here, harsh comment or negative ad there, each instance is elevated to great importance. Then, as they have done in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, the voters actually speak. Today Florida votes at moment which should help bring some clarity to the race but only serves to further set the stage for next week's big Super Tuesday blowout.

It looks like the end for Rudy Giuliani, who declared this his must-win state and predicted whoever wins Florida will win the nomination. It appears only a miracle would provide Giuliani the ability to go forward and, while he has publicly said he will join the remaining Republicans in tomorrow's televised debate in California, there are also signals that today might well mark the end of his campaign.

Conventional wisdom appears to be meshing with Giuliani in that there is a lot of talk about Florida being the end-game for the GOP. Whoever wins here between John McCain and Mitt Romney will have the edge heading into next week's Super Tuesday (really, can we get past trying to come up with catchier names and just stick with what works?). Maybe, especially since the winner will walk away with a huge chunk of delegates. But unless there's a blowout one way or another it seems likely to simply set up a two-way battle that might grow even more contentious over the next seven days.

Florida is also playing a lesser role among Democrats. Hillary Clinton is drawing more catcalls and criticism from the Obama campaign and the media for what is being cast as a stunt. Showing up to claim what is probably a meaningless victory does have the scent of a politician wishing to change the subject from losing both the South Carolina and Ted Kennedy primaries.

It may be a political ploy on Clinton's part but it is far more understandable than the adversarial position taken by the national Democratic Party and the Obama camp toward the crucial general election state. Democrats may end up thanking Clinton for insisting that voters in Michigan and Florida both received at least lip-service from someone during the primary process instead of punishment. These are, after all, two fairly important states.

Today is another day in campaign 2008 but it's hardly the last – and there are miles to go before the nominees can get some sleep.

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In a New York Times op-ed Sunday, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, endorses Barack Obama:

"Over the years," she writes, "I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama."

More: "I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved."

"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

From CBS News' Scott Conroy, on the campaign trail with Mitt Romney:

For months, political pundits speculated about whether Mitt Romney would deliver the “Mormon speech.” But today’s address was not about the candidate’s faith. Romney only uttered the word “Mormon” once during his remarks in College Station, Texas, instead focusing on the role that religious diversity has played in American history and the importance of restoring faith in the public sphere.

The speech was likely the most important of Romney’s political career, and the event felt more like a State of the Union address than a campaign stop. Many of Romney’s Boston-based staffers made the trip to Texas, and the Secret Service was out in force to protect former President George H.W. Bush, who introduced the former Massachusetts governor. The campaign even released a photograph of Governor Romney making final edits to his speech, as if to draw attention to the enormity of this event.

Although the comparisons are inevitable John F. Kennedy’s iconic 1960 speech that dealt with the then Democratic nominee’s Catholic faith, Governor Romney only briefly alluded to President Kennedy and did not mention him by name.

“Like him, I am an American running for president,” Romney said. “I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.”

The biggest applause line from the invitation-only crowd of over 400 who filled the auditorium here came when Romney hearkened back to another political icon from his home state of Massachusetts—an American legend who achieved fame during the Revolutionary era, rather than the time of Camelot.

“Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot,” Romney said. “And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation.”

Romney has been reading Jon Meacham’s book on the Founding Fathers and the role their faiths played in establishing the United States, and it was clear from his many references to the early days of the nation that their ideals of religious tolerance were on the candidate’s mind.

“The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced,” Romney said.

While Kennedy’s 1960 speech emphasized the candidate’s belief in a firm separation of church and state, Romney’s speech promoted a symbiotic relationship between faith and American society. Romney said that rather than turning toward the “religion of secularism,” the United States should bolster the role that faith plays in the public sphere.

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