Caroline Kennedy Wants Clinton's Senate Seat
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former president John F. Kennedy, has told New York Gov. David Paterson that she wants to replace Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Senate if she is, as expected, confirmed as secretary of state, a person close to the discussions told the Associated Press.
The New York Times reports that Kennedy made the decision to seek the seat after wrestling with many personal and political considerations. She first talked to the governor on Dec. 3, but Paterson described that as "informational" and said Kennedy had not decided whether she wanted the job. But today, she has been making calls to alert political figures to her interest, reports the Times.
If Paterson were to choose Kennedy, she would take the seat once occupied by her late uncle Robert F. Kennedy.
Other people who have been talked about as possibilities for the appointment include: state attorney general Andrew Cuomo; Buffalo mayor Byron Brown; former gubernatorial candidate Tom Suozzi; and Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Kirsten Gillibrand, Steve Israel, Brian Higgins and Jerrold Nadler.
Update (4:21 p.m. ET): Paterson confirms Kennedy told him she's interested in the Senate seat, reports the AP. Paterson also said that "it's not a campaign" and that Kennedy would like to sit down with him to talk about it.
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