Caroline Kennedy: Extension of Camelot?

Custom Search

Economic Savvy Needed to Get New York Senator Job

By SUZANNE SATALINE

January 20, 2009

Full article SUZANNE SATALINE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Excerpts:

WASHINGTON -- For weeks, the sizzle of celebrity had helped to draw some attention away from the bad economic news assaulting New York as Caroline Kennedy, a political scion, lined up support to become the state's next senator.

But the economy and the need to address job losses and budget deficits might overshadow Ms. Kennedy's star power after all.

NewYork Gov. David Paterson delivers his State of the State address Jan. 7. He is likely to decide who will get the open U.S. Senate seat by this weekend.

Monday, Gov. David Paterson said in a news conference that economic issues will factor heavily into his decision on who succeeds Sen. Hillary Clinton, slated to be confirmed as the next U.S. secretary of state. Gov. Paterson, in Washington for inaugural festivities, said after the news conference that he is "looking for someone who has a plan," and not one that necessarily agrees with his own. He reiterated that he hadn't made up his mind but was likely to do so by this weekend

BLOOMBERG.COM

New Yorkers Favor Cuomo Over Kennedy for U.S. Senate, Poll Says

By Michael Quint

Jan. 14, 2009

Full article Michael Quint Bloomberg.Com

Excerpts:

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- New York voters prefer Attorney General Andrew Cuomo over Caroline Kennedy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Hillary Clinton, a Quinnipiac University poll found.

Voters favored Cuomo over Kennedy by a 31 percent to 24 percent margin, with 29 percent divided among others, according to the poll. Forty-eight percent said Kennedy isn’t qualified for the job, while 37 percent said she is. Kennedy is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy and has never held public office.

Governor David Paterson has promised to appoint Clinton’s successor soon after she is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of State. A Senate vote is expected in next week.

If Caroline Kennedy initially seemed to assume that her bid to entice New York Gov. David A. Paterson to name her to fill soon-to-be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate seat would be like a coronation, she since has learned otherwise. New York politics and New York media don't believe in throwing rose petals before her every step.

We are not of the mind of those conservatives who compare the late President John F. Kennedy's daughter to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the experience department. Kennedy seeks to be one among 100 senators, while Palin stood to be America's stand-in chief executive. Her praiseworthy work for New York public schools and her deft and well-timed endorsement of then-candidate Barack Obama suggest that she has a head for policy and politics.

But if Kennedy is going to succeed in the rough-and-tumble of American politics - especially New York politics - she is going to have to accept the transition. So far, she has demonstrated signs of reticence.