Game on. Apparently, Caroline Kennedy is now working to get the appointment from Governor Paterson:
Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided she will pursue the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a person told of her decision said Monday.Whether or not this appointment makes political sense for Governor Paterson is an open question. Whoever gets picked has to run in 2010 and again in 2012. A couple weeks ago, I wrote this analysis and I think it still holds:
The decision came after a series of deeply personal and political conversations, in which Ms. Kennedy, who friends describe as unflashy but determined, wrestled with whether to give up what has been a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight.
Ms. Kennedy will ask that Gov. David A. Paterson consider her for the appointment. The governor was traveling to Utica today could not immediately be reached for comment.
If appointed, Ms. Kennedy would fill the seat once held by her uncle, the late Robert F. Kennedy.
Ms. Kennedy has been making calls this morning to alert political figures to her interest.
It could be a good political move for Governor Paterson. Rep. Nita Lowey would have been an obvious choice to replace Senator Clinton, but she took her name out of contention. Picking any other N.Y. House member would just get all the other members of the delegation irritated at Governor Paterson. I keep hearing Andrew Cuomo eventually wants to be Governor so the Senate would be a detour (and I doubt he'll challenge Paterson in a primary. That last gubernatorial primary didn't go so well for him.)But, one thing is sure: New York politics are never, ever dull.
