Caroline Kennedy May Seek N.Y. Senate Seat

Kennedy Has Talked To Gov. David Paterson About Replacing Sen. Hillary Clinton

(CBS/AP)  Caroline Kennedy has spoken to New York Gov. David Paterson about the Senate seat that will come open when Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes secretary of state, according to a person familiar with the conversation.

Kennedy reached out to the governor to discuss the Senate seat, according to the Democratic source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversation was private. The source would not disclose the details of the conversation.

Kennedy is the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and a niece of brothers Edward and Robert. Robert Kennedy held the New York seat from 1965 until his assassination in 1968.

As a prominent member of the Kennedy clan, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is the kind of high-profile, historic figure who could overshadow many other New York politicians hoping to be Paterson's choice.

The governor has said he is in no rush to make a decision, and Clinton is not giving up the seat before she is confirmed as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state.

"The governor has not yet reached out to any potential candidates," said Paterson's spokesman, Errol Cockfield. "He has been approached by several candidates. Any discussions related to that selection are private and the governor will not comment about speculation before a decision is made."

Word of the conversation comes days after Kennedy's cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced he was not interested in the job - a move that sidesteps any messy intra-family competition.

Whoever Paterson appoints would serve for two years and then have to run in a special election in 2010 to serve out the remainder of Clinton's six-year term, which ends in 2012.

Paterson has said he will run in 2010 for his first full term as governor. New York's senior senator, Charles Schumer is up for reelection in 2010 as well.

Kennedy has strong connections to incoming Obama administration officials - though Obama transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter insisted they were not involved in any way with the search for the next U.S. senator from New York.

As a prominent booster of Barack Obama's presidential bid, Kennedy spent much of 2008 taking bigger steps onto the public stage.

As famous as she is, she always has been viewed as almost painfully shy. She does not like talking about herself, nor does she appreciate those who do.

She met her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, while working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They married in 1986 and have three children.

She made a splash in early 2008 by writing an op-ed column for The New York Times declaring her support for Obama, saying he had the potential to be as inspirational to Americans as her father was in the 1960s. She also spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

She then hit the campaign trail with Obama, and worked on the vice-presidential search that eventually settled on Joe Biden.

Caroline Kennedy is easily the most famous contender for Clinton's Senate seat, but there are plenty of others. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is widely known in the state. Paterson could also pick Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown or Tom Suozzi, a Long Island elected official.

There are also a number of House members in the running, including Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Kirsten Gillibrand, Steve Israel, Brian Higgins, Nydia Velazquez and Jerrold Nadler.

[panhandlpete]

My first thoughts are like many others.....she should get NO preference because she is her Father''s daughter for he WAS elected by the people, but since the seat will be filled by the unelected governor, who will be running in 2010 himself, he will be thinking of how many votes he will get or lose from his decision. She worked and supported OBAMA so my bet says she will get the job if she asks for it. PAYBACK IN POLITICS, like it or not, that''s the way the elite keep their lifestyles going.

[hitoyou11]

Just what we need. Someone everyone knows, but WHO KNOWS NOTHING. Stay home, don''t make a fool of your self, Ted already made a fool out of all the Kennedy klan.

[ioweign]

Ummmm... credentials ?

Posted by bb543 at 02:21 PM : Dec 06, 2008


Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen for nine years, and live in the state they represent.

[clancy49]

I am sick to death of the political royal families. Kennedy-Bush-Clinton. Is this a democracy or not? Is it the White House or Buckingham Palace. These royal families are all alike. They are nutters living off the blood of their subjects without a clue to the reality of work.

[yongamerica]

What is in a name? What makes this toon a more viable candidate than more qualified people that have been active in politics in the local and state level.

[blitzder]

Possibly, the most courageous and charming lady in politics.

Aside from the SOUR GRAPES republican losers on this board, Caroline would be the best choice and bring the US much needed international prestige by her grace and intelligence. Which has been sorely lacking from the lacklustre bunch of republican frauds that occupied the White House and the Congress for the last 8 years.

[neonink]

DJ_IL,
what''s wrong?

Keep it in the Middle East and nothing is wrong.

[neonink]

I wonder what some of these people would have been had they not been born Kennedy?

[bjcone8559]

Boot Legging started the Kennedy Legacy.



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Posted by republic76


That''s true. What started the Bush legacy... Oh Yeah, trading with and supporting Hitler. Oh, and three generations of family and business ties to the Bin Laden family.

Look it up wingnuts.

[downsteamjim]

I am thinking about sending my cat to New York and changing his name to Kennedy. That should qualify him for the Senate.

[jbright9]

Caroline Kennedy is an extremely bright woman. I am sure she would be an exemplary Senator. Her family has done much to help the American people. They have all been raised to give back to their country. She is quite reserved so I do think that being a politician may be difficult for her. Her personal life and ethics would put a lot of the other Senators to shame.

[bb543]

Ummmm... credentials ?

[krescera]

Doesn''t Michelle Obama have any uncles or aunts ?

[ozonmojo]

As long as this kind of primitive clan worship goes on in the U.S,Americans have no right to preach democracy to other countries.What is the difference between these so-called scions and the brood of some Ayatollah in the middle East?

[secundus2]

There are dozens of better qualified DEMs in NY state, but Kennedy has wealth and celebrity. Nothing else counts as much in today''s politics; not party, not issues, not experience, not character--these all take a back seat to campaign spending and media recognition. Elections have become like high-school polls for the prom queen.

[jtleseth]

RESUME FOR CAROLINE KENNEDY...

EXpeerience: N A M E

[cariboubarbi]

Wingnuts,

Can you stop your partisan hate long enough to realize we''re all Americans?

[cheteunice]

godofredo29, ''''New York could do a whole lot worse.''''

Yes, they could keep Mrs. Bill Clinton--I''''m sorry, Hillary!

[cheteunice]

godofredo29, ''New York could do a whole lot worse.''

Yes, they could keep Mrs. Bill Clinton--I''m sorry, Hillary!


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Posted by

[cheteunice]

Please! No more Clintons, Kennedys or Bushs! Enough already!!!!