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.

Barack Obama’s team seems absolutely befuddled over New York Gov. David Paterson’s method for selecting Hillary Clinton’s Senate replacement.

Paterson, like hundreds of thousands of others flocking to Washington for Obama’s swearing in — including Caroline Kennedy — has still given no indication of whether he will pick Kennedy, who is said to be Obama’s preferred pick.

"We can’t follow the logic in his process," an Obama administration source told the New York Daily News on Sunday. "We want Caroline. We won’t indicate disappointment with where he ends up."

Paterson got the rumor mill going again after he said he would name Clinton’s replacement over the weekend. But he later said he was "having new thinking" and needed time for follow-up conversations and interviews with some candidates. He said on CNN’s Larry King Sunday night that he would pick Clinton’s replacement within two or three days after she’s confirmed. Meanwhile, one Senate hopeful, Rep. Steve Israel, D-NY, says he won’t mount a primary challenge in 2010 if Paterson picks someone other than him, in order to keep Democrats united and prevent any Republican from taking the seat.

Adding to the drama, another potential replacement, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, pointed out to reporters once again over the weekend that she — and others, too — don’t think Kennedy is qualified enough to get the job. "I think it does not matter what I say because I’m not making the decision. It is not a campaign. It is an appointment," said Maloney, who has been endorsed by a number of women’s groups.  

It’s up to Paterson, and there’s no shortage of people anxiously awaiting his decision. We just hope he does it soon, lest this back and forth distract from the incoming administration!