So says governor Patterson:
Gov. Patterson put up a caution flag Wednesday to those ready to anoint Caroline Kennedy New York’s next U.S. senator.
“How is she a front-runner?” Paterson shot back when a reporter used the term referring to Kennedy.
Paterson, just back from his troop visit to Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, did not rule Kennedy out of course.
Still, he made it clear he is growing tired of the constant speculation about JFK’s daughter. Paterson has the sole decision on who will replace Hillary Clinton, who is leaving to become secretary of state.
He said the process is “sounding more like the prelude to a high school prom than the choosing of the United States senator.”
Paterson has repeatedly said he won’t choose anyone until after Clinton is confirmed.
Which is reasonable – the chances of Hillary not being confirmed are small, but until the deal is done, she’s still a Senator and thus the governor is being entirely right and proper in reserving judgment.
As for me, I’m wondering which power players in the Democratic party are pushing Ms. Kennedy – after all, she’s a complete political zero. I’m sure she’s a nice person, but there is no indication that she’s some sort of secret political genius just waiting in the wings for the right moment. Other than the Kennedy family trying to burnish their rapidly fading political star, I can’t see why anyone would want Ms. Kennedy in the Senate unless she happened to run for it and win in her own right.
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