In this series, which started in July ‘08, wowOwow follows the political news swirling around Caroline Kennedy since her surprise endorsement of Barack Obama and high-profile placement on his VP selection committee. Now, Caroline is ready to launch a political career of her own. With the Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch, we’ll follow all the latest news.  

Women took the national political stage in a big way this year. Hillary Clinton ran for the White House, and Sarah Palin hoped to be veep. Neither woman got what they wanted, but their presence on the campaign trails did raise important questions on whether women face a double standard in the political realm. (Remember all the hubbub over Hillary’s tears?)

That said, it comes as no surprise that there’s debate over whether Caroline Kennedy counts as another victim of a double standard when it comes to women in politics.

The Washington Post says:

Like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sarah Palin before her, Kennedy illustrated what some say is an enduring double standard in the handling of ambitious female office-seekers. Even as more women step forward as contenders for premier political jobs, observers say, few seem able to get there.

Kennedy went from being a beloved icon to being "a laughingstock in the New York media," the Post says. Although many political observers dismissed the idea that Kennedy’s troubles had anything to do with gender and more to do with her lack of legislative experience, the newspaper notes that during  the time of the Kennedy-centric drama, three other Senate vacancies were filled by lesser-known men with "far less drama." That, we think, may be an overstatement. One of the Senate seats went to Roland Burris, the man picked by scandal-scarred Illinois Gov. Rod Balgojevich to fill Barack Obama’s seat. That selection was full of drama! But, still, political analysts insist women face a tougher road than their male counterparts.

"There’s something different about when women run," said Bob Shrum, a Democratic consultant and a close ally of Kennedy. That may be so, but Kennedy was long reported to be the front-runner. Regardless, Kennedy, who dropped her bid yesterday, could still find a plum job.

Meanwhile, Washington Post columnist Al Kamen offers up several possibilities for Kennedy, including ambassador to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), representing the United States in the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the Court of St. James in London or head of the Peace Corps, which cousin Maria Shriver’s parents, Sargent and Eunice, started.

But there’s also another option for her — senator from Massachusetts, the seat currently held by her uncle, Ted Kennedy. We don’t think that’s completely out of the question, for Kennedy may face less backlash in her family’s historic home state, and it’s assumed the Kennedys would like to keep that seat in the family. Whatever happens, we’re not counting Kennedy out just yet.