There are a lot of names being bandied about as replacements for HRC in the Senate, should she be confirmed as Secretary of State. ABC News is reporting that Caroline Kennedy has been asked by Gov. Paterson if she has any interest in stepping into the role.
A Democrat who would know tells ABC News that New York governor David Paterson has talked to Caroline Kennedy about taking the seat, which was once held by her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy. It’s not exactly shocking that Paterson would reach out to one of the most highly respected public figures in New York, but this is: Sources say Kennedy is considering it, and has not ruled out coming to Washington to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.
A few years ago, the famously private Caroline Kennedy would be the last Kennedy expected to serve in Congress, but of course, she took on a much more high-profile role during the presidential campaign and, if she does it, would be more than New York’s junior Senator; she’d have closer ties to the Obama White House than any of her colleagues, a direct line to the East Wing.
When Robert Kennedy, Jr. took himself out of the running for the seat earlier this week, he told Jonathan Hicks of the New York Times, “Caroline Kennedy would be the perfect choice if she would agree to it.” And one more thing: We hear that President-elect Obama has made it clear that he thinks Caroline Kennedy would be a great choice.
But Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter tells us, “President-elect Obama has a very high regard for Caroline Kennedy. But, he has not spoken with Governor Paterson or Caroline Kennedy about the race, and has no involvement in this process.”
