12/10/2008 8:25 am

POV

Kennedy Cousin: Caroline Is Thinking About Clinton's Senate Seat (Video)

© AP

Caroline Kennedy is pondering throwing her hat in the ring as Hillary Clinton’s Senate replacement, according to her cousin Kerry Kennedy.

Kerry Kennedy – the ex-wife of Andrew Cuomo, whose name has also been floated as a top contender for the seat – told CNN Tuesday night that while her cousin hasn’t come out and directly said she’s interested, “we’ve exchanged a few e-mails and I think she’s trying to figure out exactly what she wants to do. I hope she goes forward because I think we need that in New York.”

She added: “We need her kind of leadership, someone who’s really committed to the public interest.”

But there has been some concern – reportedly from Gov. David Paterson, whose job it is to pick Clinton’s successor – that perhaps JFK’s daughter isn’t a strong enough personality to get the job done on behalf of the state in the Senate. Kerry Kennedy seemed to say that Caroline is more of a behind-the-scenes type of gal who may not seek the limelight much, but she gets things done. She’s also a fast learner and when she does put herself in the spotlight, she shines.

“I think Caroline has worked so hard in the past year on the Barack Obama campaign. She’s incredibly smart, she’s a lawyer, she’s a bestselling author — raised $65 million for public schools in New York,” said Kerry, who is Robert F. Kennedy’s daughter and author of Being Catholic Now.

“She genuinely cares about people and cares about the issues that are facing people. What she does not care about is putting her name in the press a lot.”

And don’t expect Caroline to throw the Kennedy name around to get what she wants in the Senate.

“She’d just be a great candidate and a great senator, primarily because Caroline is only about the public interest,” her cousin swooned. “She has no need for fame or power or for money. She just really, really cares about public education, and about women’s issues and I think she’d be a great, great senator.”

Many members of the Kennedy clan — and others, like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — think that too. There were reports that even Ted Kennedy himself was making phone calls to Paterson making the case for his niece. Caroline has personally spoken with Paterson.

But aides in Paterson and Ted Kennedy’s office denied Tuesday that the Massachusetts senator was lobbying for her.

In fact, Paterson hasn’t spoken to the elder Kennedy in years. “We just haven’t talked at all,” he told The New York Times. “He hasn’t sent any message to me from anyone. And no one has even called me and said they’ve spoken to him.”

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FrostySilverstein
I appreciate Gov. Patterson’s observation that perrhaps Caroline Kennedy does not have the agressive style needed for the State of NY in the senate. In addition to her natural reserve, she has not served in elective office. Yes, she was a good fundraiser for NY Schools. She seems to be a bright, capable woman. Her books illustrate her refinement. Those lovely poetry & anthology books, however, do not give a clue as to how she would govern. There happen to be others more experienced and talented for the role of representing NY to the U.S. Senate. One of the most talented was another person who has not served in elective office but has done so much, in fact, he accomplished miracles, for our environment. He most definately has the “personality” to serve as a Senator or even as a President. He happens to be Caroline’s 1st Cousin. Bobby Kennedy, Jr. who was allegedly on the Gov.’s short list for this appointment. What a fantastic senator he would have been! I am one of many, many people who are fans of Bobby, Jr. We are deeply disappointed in the way Kennedy family dynamics seemed to have pushed Caroline as the frontrunner for this position. Bobby has graciously been helping promote his cousin for the job. Many of us deeply wish he had done otherwise! Here, Bobby stood up for his principals & backed Hillary Clinton. In spite of family pressure to back Obama in the primaries. Now, it appears as if Hillary’s seat will go to a person very responsible for the loss of her bid for the Presidency. I am not sure Caroline’s appointment would be a respectful thank you to Hillary for the fine service she gave to the State of New York. But that is politics, as Gov. Patterson admitted, it’s a nasty game at times. A game that might reward an obnoxious person more than a humble one.
By FrostySilverstein on 12/10/2008 6:07 pm