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Gov. Paterson Set to Name Kirsten Gillibrand to Senate

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With Caroline Kennedy dropping out, Democratic congresswoman is set to become New York’s next Senator. Gov. David Paterson will name her to fill Hillary Clinton’s vacant seat on Friday.

Updated with new video from MSNBC:

Gov. David A. Paterson has selected Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, a 42-year-old congresswoman from upstate who is known for bold political moves and centrist policy positions, to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a person who spoke to the governor early Friday. The governor will announce his selection at noon in Albany. An aide to Ms. Gillibrand confirmed that she had accepted the appointment. – from NYtimes

But some New York City Democrats are skeptical of Gillibrand, who voted against the financial rescue package last fall. And the National Rifle Association has endorsed Gillibrand — another cause for concern among some Democrats. In defense of the endorsement, Gillibrand told FOX News that she come from a “hunting family” and “wants to support hunter’s rights.” – from Fox

“I’ve spent 15 years trying to prevent gun violence in this country, and if he does pick her and if no one goes and primaries her, I will primary her,” McCarthy said. “I will do that. I’m not going to give up on this. I’m not going to let New York State get represented by someone who gets a 100 percent rating from the NRA.” – from Newsday

Posted
January 23rd, 2009

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Why Caroline Kennedy dropped out of Senate race, options

With Caroline Kennedy’s abrupt exit from the Senate race, speculation naturally goes to who will be named to replace Hillary Clinton as the new New York senator. The big names are NY AG Andrew Cuomo and leaning Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand, an upstate lawmaker.

Problems involving taxes and a household employee surfaced during the vetting of Caroline Kennedy and derailed her candidacy for the Senate, a person close to Gov. David A. Paterson said on Thursday, in an account at odds with Ms. Kennedy’s own description of her reasons for withdrawing. The account emerged 14 hours after Ms. Kennedy announced that she was taking her name out of contention for the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, and as Mr. Paterson, according to two well-placed Democrats told of his thinking, was leaning toward selecting Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand, an upstate lawmaker in her second term in Congress. – From NY Times

Caroline Kennedy, who stunningly quit her push for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, is dealing with a “tax problem and a potential nanny issue,” a source close to Gov. Paterson said Thursday. “She was facing some potentially embarrassing personal issues” that came up during the vetting process, the source said, adding that the governor had decided she was not up to the job anyway. Kennedy cited “personal reasons” when she released a terse one-sentence statement announcing she was quitting her Senate bid. – From NY Daily News

Caroline Kennedy’s exit from the New York Senate race boosts the chances of state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and nearly a dozen other contenders, and it puts mounting pressure on Gov. David Paterson to name his pick to replace Hillary Clinton very soon. Paterson had been expected to name his choice Saturday, but state government aides now say that announcement could come as early as Thursday. – From Fox News

Posted
January 22nd, 2009

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Caroline Kennedy withdraws name for Senate seat

Andrew Cuomo, come on down!

The search to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate was thrown into chaos Wednesday night after sources said Caroline Kennedy had withdrawn her name from consideration. The startling news came just as Gov. Paterson was set to choose Clinton’s successor – with Kennedy considered to be the front-runner. Even as some sources said Kennedy had told Paterson she was pulling out, there was confusion among her closest confidantes. A family source said cousin Kerry Kennedy spoke with both Paterson and Caroline Kennedy’s political consultant, Josh Isay, and neither was aware she was bowing out. – From NY Daily News

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision. Ms. Kennedy on Wednesday called Gov. David A. Paterson, who will choose a successor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, to inform him that she no longer wished to be considered. – From NY Times

Caroline Kennedy, who was widely considered the front-runner for an appointment to replace Hillary Clinton as U.S. senator from New York, will remove herself from consideration for that post, according to three Democratic sources. Sources told CNN that, as of about 8 p.m. Wednesday, she had not yet informed New York Gov. David Paterson of her decision. And as the evening wore on, confusion still surrounded the situation — sources telling CNN they were unsure of exactly where the decision stood. – From CNN

Posted
January 21st, 2009

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Cuomo being considered for Senate seat

The whole Caroline Kennedy for senate thing is hitting some snags. The NY Guv is saying that he’s considering Andrew Cuomo as well. While Kennedy has the pedigree, it’s Cuomo who has the chops. Some people just don’t think Kennedy is qualified. Don’t be surprised if after a long hard look the governor picks Cuomo.

In Washington for Barack Obama’s inauguration, New York Governor David Paterson ended up talking about Hillary Clinton and the U.S. Senate seat she recently gave up. Asked by CBS News’ Bob Schieffer if he had chosen a successor for Clinton, the secretary of state designate, Paterson said he had a timeframe for making an announcement but would not say who the appointee is going to be. “In the next couple of days,” the governor said. “And I am not totally sure who I’m going to appoint yet.” – From CBS News

Gov. David Paterson acknowledged Tuesday that he is considering Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat about to be vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton. The two Democrats had refused since early December to say if Cuomo is in the running, even as the latest polls show New Yorkers narrowly favor him over Caroline Kennedy. “He has outstanding qualities and is someone I am considering,” Paterson told CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer and “Evening News” anchor Katie Couric. – From Newsday

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. 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. – From Wall Street Journal

Posted
January 20th, 2009

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Sarah Palin: Is Caroline Kennedy getting ‘kid glove’ treatment?

She messed up her first interviews, didn’t show much of a grasp of the issues and, dontcha know, had a speech pattern that was widely mimicked. Sarah Palin? You betcha. But Caroline Kennedy also fits the bill. The difference is that while the conservative Republican Palin was ridiculed in the press and on “Saturday Night Live” in her quest to be vice president, the liberal Democratic Kennedy, after early criticism in the media, remains the perceived favorite in her bid for a Senate seat from New York. In an interview with conservative radio talk-show host and filmmaker John Ziegler, Palin questioned whether Kennedy was getting better treatment than Palin did as Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate. Clips from Ziegler’s interview were posted on YouTube this week. “I’ve been interested to see how Caroline Kennedy will be handled and if she will be handled with kid gloves or if she will be under such a microscope,” Palin said. – from AP

Posted
January 9th, 2009

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NY Governor David Paterson May Be Leaning Toward Caroline Kennedy

Although NY Gov. David Paterson isn’t saying who he’ll pick to succeed Sen. Hillary Clinton as the state’s junior senator, two sources close to him say Caroline Kennedy is his first choice.

Posted
January 2nd, 2009

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Caroline Kennedy Says ‘You Know’ 138 Times During Interview, You Know…

NC: Last question and then we’ll let you go. What’s your favorite place to visit in New York State aside from New York City and Long Island?

CK: What’s my favorite place to visit? Um, you know, there’s lots of beautiful places in New York and I have friends, you know, I’ve been to the Catskills, I’ve been up to the Adirondacks. I like to go to historical sites. So I loved visiting the battlefield at Saratoga.

- from NYTimes

Posted
December 29th, 2008

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Exclusive: Caroline Kennedy Talks Senate Seat

In her first sit-down interview since expressing interest in a U.S. Senate seat, Caroline Kennedy says she will have to work twice as hard if appointed to the seat representing New York, despite her famous name.

Posted
December 26th, 2008

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Caroline Kennedy’s Tough Fight for Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat

Caroline Kennedy, who is seeking appointment to New York’s soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat, is facing sharp criticism from rivals, intense scrutiny from the media and disparagement over everything from refusing to disclose her finances to not voting in some past elections. In the second week of a public introduction that even some supporters say has not gone smoothly, Kennedy is also facing resistance from some Democrats over the support of New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I), one of her highest-profile backers. – from Washpo

Speaking on CBS’ Face The Nation, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. (who has said he wants to run for Senate) called Kennedy a “People Magazine celebrity” who, as far as he knew, “has never held a real job. “How can the average New Yorker identify with Caroline Kennedy?” King asked. “She comes from an outstanding family, I’m sure she’s a wonderful parent, but she’s never taken a stand on any public issue. She’s never even held one news conference. She hasn’t gone to one American Legion hall or Knights of Columbus hall or Masonic temple, or one synagogue to answer questions. When she does go on her so-called listening tour upstate, she’s, like, running from city hall into the car to avoid reporters. – from CBSNews

The governor’s frustration follows reports last week that Kevin Sheekey, a top deputy to Mr. Bloomberg who has been advising Ms. Kennedy, had called a labor leader and told him that Ms. Kennedy was going to be senator, “so get on board now,” and that a member of Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s staff was helping Ms. Kennedy reach out to unions. – from NYTimes

Posted
December 25th, 2008

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Born Survivor Caroline Kennedy makes Senate bid

As political debuts go, it was not an entirely brilliant start: Caroline Kennedy, America’s most famous political daughter, ducking the television cameras to dive into a waiting black four-wheel drive, only moments after announcing she wanted a seat in the Senate. The awkward scene offered a new take on Kennedy. Was this the fairytale ending at last for the erstwhile princess of Camelot, the survivor of a family that suffered more than its share of assassination, cancer, and tragic accidents? Or was this an example of Park Avenue privilege claiming what it saw as its due? – from Guardian

Posted
December 20th, 2008

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Caroline Kennedy in Harlem

Ms. Kennedy had lunch at Sylvia’s, the famous soul food restaurant and stomping ground of Harlem politicos, with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Posted
December 20th, 2008

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Hillary says Caroline is Qualified

Posted
December 18th, 2008

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Caroline Kennedy to Seek Clinton’s Senate Seat

Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided to pursue the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, a person told of her decision said on Monday. The decision came after a series of deeply personal and political conversations, in which Ms. Kennedy, whom friends describe as unflashy but determined, wrestled with whether to give up what has been a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight. – From NY Times

A person close to the discussions says Caroline Kennedy will seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton. Kennedy has told Democratic Gov. David Paterson she wants the job should Clinton be confirmed as secretary of state for President-elect Barack Obama. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because neither Kennedy nor Paterson have acknowledged she is seeking the position. – From breitbart.com

Caroline Kennedy, the 51-year-old daughter of President John F. Kennedy, has made it clear to high-level Democrats that she wants to be the next senator from New York, a source close to Kennedy has told CNN’s John King. Two other sources Monday confirmed her interest in filling the seat now held by Secretary of State-designee Hillary Clinton. One source is a senior Democratic operative. – From CNN.com

Posted
December 15th, 2008

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NYC mayor praises Caroline Kennedy for Clinton’s Senate seat

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave a boost to Caroline Kennedy as a possible Senate candidate, saying she is experienced and “can do anything.” “Caroline Kennedy is a very experienced woman, she’s worked very hard for the city. I can just tell you she’s made an enormous difference in New York City,” said Bloomberg after meeting on Capitol Hill with other U.S. mayors to seek stimulus spending from Congress. – from AP

Gov. David A. Paterson said on Sunday night that Caroline Kennedy has not yet explicitly indicated to him that she wants to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton as senator. He added that he was still considering a number of candidates to fill the seat.

The chatter in Democratic circles has been dominated by the news that Mr. Paterson discussed the Senate seat with Ms. Kennedy last week, holding open the possibility that she might be chosen to occupy the seat once held by her uncle Robert F. Kennedy, and serve alongside another uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Mr. Paterson, for his part, has spent much of the past few weeks fielding questions about whom he will choose to replace Mrs. Clinton, who was picked to be secretary of state by President-elect Barack Obama. The governor made sport of the speculation during a speech in Washington on Saturday night.

But he said that though he and Ms. Kennedy had discussed the Senate seat, the ball was essentially in her court.

“I have enough qualified candidates that I don’t think I have to draft anybody,” he said in an interview on Sunday night. “Part of the consideration is how willing people are to serve, so I would figure if they were willing, they would make the request. I haven’t really taken anyone in hand and asked them.”

- from NYtimes

Posted
December 8th, 2008

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Senator Caroline Kennedy?

As Sen. Hillary Clinton is expected to be confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of State, political insiders have suggested that Caroline Kennedy could replace her in the Senate. Priya David reports.

Posted
December 7th, 2008

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Caroline Kennedy Interested in Clinton’s NY Senate Seat

Democratic officials say Caroline Kennedy is interested in the New York Senate seat that could be vacated by Hillary Clinton. Kennedy is the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy.

Posted
December 6th, 2008

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Report: Caroline Kennedy Asked to Take Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat

Another Kennedy could be headed to the Senate. New York Gov. David Paterson has reached out to Caroline Kennedy about filling Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, and Kennedy is considering the overture, ABC News reported. – From Foxnews.com

Posted
December 5th, 2008

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