Caroline Kennedy May Seek N.Y. Senate Seat
Kennedy Has Talked To Gov. David Paterson About Replacing Sen. Hillary Clinton
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Caroline Kennedy takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 25, 2008. Kennedy has reportedly spoken to New York Gov. David Paterson about possibly being appointed to the U.S. Senate seat that Hillary Clinton will vacate if she becomes secretary of state. (AP)
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New York Gov. David Paterson appears in this March 13, 2008 file photo. Paterson will appoint someone to fill Sen. Hillary Clinton's seat if she becomes secretary of state. The appointee would then have to run in a special election in 2010. (AP)
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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.
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.
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.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."





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See all 49 CommentsPosted 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.
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.
what''s wrong?
Keep it in the Middle East and nothing is wrong.
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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.
EXpeerience: N A M E
Wingnuts,
Can you stop your partisan hate long enough to realize we''re all Americans?
Yes, they could keep Mrs. Bill Clinton--I''''m sorry, Hillary!
Yes, they could keep Mrs. Bill Clinton--I''m sorry, Hillary!
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