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Caroline Kennedy Throws Hat in NY Senate Seat Ring
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 6, 2008
Modified Dec 6, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 6, 2008
Modified Dec 6, 2008
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Turning rumor into fact, Caroline Kennedy is "very interested" in replacing Hillary Clinton in the Senate. Governor David Paterson confirmed that Kennedy called him to discuss the position and her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the NY Times, "I believe that she is considering it. A lot of people the last couple of weeks have urged her to do it."
While Paterson has emphasized that he will not make a decision about a Senate replacement until Clinton officially resigns, he is said to lean towards appointing a woman or a Hispanic to her seat. There's been speculation about Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Kristen Gillibrand, as well as Nita Lowey and Carolyn Maloney, but Kennedy's name would be added starpower. But being a politician is no cakewalk: A Democratic elected official pointed out to the TImes, "Hillary Clinton was a superstar, but she worked like an animal." RFK Jr. offered, “I don’t think anybody who knows Caroline doubts that she has fire in her belly. She’s a workaholic.”
RFK Jr. also opined to the Daily News, "If she ran [in 2010], you would see the whole state flooded with Kennedys campaigning for her. There would be Kennedys no one even heard of. Our whole family would be delighted." Another person who might be delighted: President-elect Obama, who got a boost when Caroline Kennedy wrote an op-ed supporting him, "I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama."
Kennedy and Paterson will reportedly be meeting tonight to chat some more.
Tagged
caroline kennedy
Clinton replacement
governor paterson
hillary clinton
Kennedy dynasty
senate
Ted Kennedy
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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