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The Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch | 12/08/2008 12:55 pm

Caroline Kennedy's Chances of Replacing Hillary? 20-1

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

Another day, another rumor over whether Caroline Kennedy will make a formal foray into politics.

Over the weekend, the news was that New York Gov. David Paterson talked to JFK’s daughter about the possibility of filling Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat next month. Today, the news is that Kennedy’s chances of being named by Paterson to the post are pretty slim — 20-1, in fact.

The New York Post reports that a source close to the governor is saying that although Sen. Ted Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other members of the Kennedy clan are pushing for their kin to be the next senator from New York, they may want it more than she does.

"It looks to me like [Caroline’s cousin] Bobby Kennedy may be trying to push Caroline more than Caroline is pushing herself," a Paterson administration source told The Post.

“I believe that she is considering it,” RFK Jr. told The New York Times on Friday. “A lot of people the last couple of weeks have urged her to do it.”

He also told the AP she would be a great advocate in education: "I know she’s interested … She spent a lot of her life balancing public service with obligations to her family. Now her children are grown, and she is ready to move onto a bigger stage." 

Caroline Kennedy isn’t nearly as obsessed with politics as some others in her family. She prefers to work on her favorite issues — such as education — quietly on the side. To that end, the Post also says Paterson may be concerned that Kennedy doesn’t have the aggressive personality it takes to bring home the bacon for New York — particularly when the state is in such dire financial straits. But it has been reported that Paterson wants a woman or non-white candidate for the position.

"The bottom-line question is: Can Caroline Kennedy be the tough, hard, calculating, aggressive, articulate and, yes, obnoxious type of senator New York needs and expects?" said a second administration insider.

Barack Obama even weighed in — sort of.

"Caroline Kennedy has become one of my dearest friends and just a wonderful American, a wonderful person. But the last thing I want to do is get involved in New York politics," Obama said Sunday on MSNBC’s "Meet the Press."

It’s also doubtful Clinton would be pleased seeing her seat go to a Kennedy. After all, big Ted, the Lion of the Senate, turned on her and supported Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary race. That’s gotta still sting.

Speaking of Ted Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat — diagnosed with brain cancer this year — on Sunday stepped down as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He will keep his chairmanship of the Senate Health Committee to keep his focus on health-care reform, and plans to return to Congress in January.

23 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Lucinda Herbert
As I mentioned elsewhere on this site, Caroline Kennedy is reputed to be lovely and intelligent, but she has no formal political experience. She should not become a Senator from New York just because her name is Kennedy and Uncle Ted has made some phone calls. There must be at least 20 other individuals with solid experience who are far more worthy of consideration.
By Lucinda Herbert on 12/08/2008 1:13 pm
Lee Harrison
Lucinda, I agree with everything you say above…but if the country wants “change,” and to cease “business as usual” in DC, maybe someone like Ms. Kennedy would be a good start. Personally, I think she’s too good for politics….
By Lee Harrison on 12/08/2008 1:28 pm
Char Star
Like who, Lucinda? Name the “twenty” you know of that are “far more worthy”.
By Char Star on 12/08/2008 3:49 pm
Lucinda Herbert
Char, Let’s start with Carolyn Maloney, a real veteran of the trenches. Nita Lowey, another veteran who has proved herself (although I don’t think she wants to give up her current job), Kirsten Gillibrand who has been successful in an overwhelmingly Republican district, Andrew Cuomo, Byron Brown …. These are all people who have been in the trenches. They truly understand how diverse New York is and what it takes to get things done here.
By Lucinda Herbert on 12/08/2008 4:40 pm
Char Star
Welll, you’re right that Maloney, Lowey & Gillibrand etc have the experience, but none have the pull of a Caroline Kennedy, someone who speaks for the democratic political insiders & still is a decent person. If Caroline would decide to take that seat, I know she would do it right. Her enemies don’t want her in the seat because of public opinion. The public loves her. How could they ever get away with their usual snide remarks, unfair attacks, etc? The public would be mad. THAT’S why they don’t want Caroline. It’s like when the Queen subtly attacked Princess Di. Pure & overwhelming public anger at her for that.
By Char Star on 12/08/2008 5:38 pm
Lucinda Herbert
As I wrote somewhere else on this site, I see Caroline Kennedy more like a consultant — short-term projects — I don’t think she’s one for the nitty gritty down and dirty negotiations, as well as the building of alliances. She operates in a rarified world and guards her privacy. If you’re comparing Caroline Kennedy to Princess Diana, I would venture to say that Diana also preferred short-term projects to long-term negotiations.
By Lucinda Herbert on 12/08/2008 7:09 pm
Char Star
She might have staff that do ‘down & dirty”, as you say, FOR her, while she forges alliances. I don’t know. Maybe she’s been doing short term projects because she’s been raising her family but now that they’re older & she’s 51, I believe it said somewhere, she just may be ready to take her bite of the Big Apple. I was only comparing the strong & loyal love people had for Princess Di with the same love they have for Caroline. What political opponent would risk slamming HER & causing half of their constituency to vote against them? Or make enemies of the core Democratic insiders?
By Char Star on 12/08/2008 8:06 pm
Lucinda Herbert
Well, we’ll just have to wait and see. Gov. Patterson remarked that she didn’t seem to be as interested as her family was. I think all these leaks are coming from the Kennedy organization. Initially, Kerry Kennedy (Cuomo’s ex-wife) seemed to be plugging her brother, but now it appears they’re both pushing for their cousin.
By Lucinda Herbert on 12/08/2008 8:30 pm
Lucinda Herbert
As a resident of New York, I also objected to this state allowing a woman, who hails from Illinois and later Arkansas, to make use of it as a spring board to her higher ambitions, when she had no history with the state. With her uncle, cousin, and the Clintons in Washington, I can’t imagine it won’t be business as usual. David Paterson is supposed to be an independent thinker, but if he goes ahead with this appointment, it will be confirmation to me that the Democratic Party machine is as powerful as it always was in New York.
By Lucinda Herbert on 12/08/2008 2:23 pm
DeBúrca obj
The best thing about Caroline becoming the Senator of NY would be that she is, as far as I know, a true Democrat with a capital “D”. She is definitely qualified to RUN for the Senate. And on some level I can see this as a perfect opportunity for her to get into that position (IF she wanted it) and prove herself before having to campaign for it, something I think would be difficult for her to do considering her personality. However, I stand by what I said in an earlier thread… I would really be surprised if she took the appointment because I don’t see her being comfortable with what might be perceived as being opportunistic.
By DeBúrca obj on 12/08/2008 2:27 pm
Grande Camper
She never has taken an aggressive stand on things even when she agrees with that issue. I don’t see her being tough enough to take on that job. She is more of a great cheerleader who is our forever loved cheerleader of all time.
By Grande Camper on 12/08/2008 2:45 pm
Diana T
I think one can be the strong, silent type. One doesn’t have to be aggressive to be powerful.
By Diana T on 12/08/2008 2:48 pm
Patty E
A very good point, Diana! Remember back in the day (40’s, 50’s) where the one with the most power, was the one who shouted the loudest?? Anytime someone disagreed they simply shouted louder—-to scare everyone into conforming? Then in the 60’s, everybody shouted back….and here we are today….the most secure ones, know they have no need to shout—they ‘know’, they ‘have brains’, they can think, and with that, they can think or talk through several scenarios, before making a decision—-and they know that too—- strength is within the person—-not shouted out of the person loud enough to knock everyone down….SO! do they really shout at each other all day, in congress? Or do they ‘converse’?
By Patty E on 12/08/2008 3:23 pm
Elle Kaye
Lee - Wouldn’t it be fantastic if more individuals who aren’t professional politicians could end up in Congress to concentrate on governance and statesmanship. Let’s leave the lobbyists in the lobby. We’re in crisis here; and it’s time to make a concerted effort to see if Community (and State and Nation) Organizing and Reaching Across the Aisle are just platitudes of campaign rhetoric or if they’re the means to a successful recovery from our current economic debacle. Oh, and no …I’m not smoking anything. I’m just desperately optimistic or optimistically desperate, living out here on “Main Street”.
By Elle Kaye on 12/08/2008 3:08 pm
shirley adams
Elle, i am with you, yes we need more fresh blood, that’s the whole problem we are in to many old ideas. the whole adminstrion need a make over. and no one over 70 years old. we need change, we the people for the people. not for corporation. They seem to be running the show these days. Weed the bums out. To much greed!
By shirley adams on 12/08/2008 5:59 pm