Caroline Meeting With Politicians & Power Brokers In Bid To Replace Clinton

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Caroline Kennedy. (File)

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Caroline Kennedy has expressed serious interest in Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. Would you like to see her fill the vacancy?
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Caroline Kennedy is meeting with upstate New York politicians and power brokers today as she begins her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, met this morning with Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll and John F.X. Mannion, an upstate Democratic party power broker.

"I just wanted to say, as some of you may have heard, I would be honored to be considered for the position of U.S. senator," Kennedy said. "I wanted to come upstate to meet Mayor Driscoll and others to tell them about my experience and also learn how Washington can help upstate New York."

Kennedy noted that a number of elected officials who also have been named as possible Clinton successors.

"There are lot of good candidates the governor is considering and he's laid out a process and I'm proud to be in that process," she said.
Kennedy's outreach is similar to Clinton's "listening tour" in 1999 and 2000 when she first ran for the Senate. Like Clinton, Kennedy faces criticism because she's never been elected to public office. Some also worry she'll favor New York City interests over those of upstaters.

Kennedy is favored to take the seat should Clinton be confirmed as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state.

A poll released on Wednesday shows New York voters divided over who should fill Sen. Clinton's seat, but most think Kennedy will get the job.

The Siena Research Institute poll shows 26 percent of voters say Gov. David Paterson should pick New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, 23 percent say Kennedy, and 18 percent say they don't know. Six other possible choices each had 7 percent or less.

But 31 percent think Paterson will select Kennedy, a lawyer and daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy, 16 percent think Cuomo, and 38 percent say they don't know.

Clinton is expected to be confirmed as secretary of state in the Obama administration.

The telephone survey of 622 registered voters last week had a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.

It is a Senate seat that has long been held by political celebrities who had not held prior elective office. Clinton grabbed the seat in 2000. Robert F. Kennedy got it in 1965.

Paterson said Monday that "it's not a campaign" and that Kennedy would like "at some point to sit down."

Kennedy is not the only person who wants to succeed Clinton. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is said to be in the running, as are Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and a host of congressmen and mayors from around the state.

Pundits say she'll have to prove herself.

"She brings star power to a prospective ticket. She is clearly a well know name, a household name and in fact a legendary name in American politics. [She will] weigh that against inexperience in the rough and tumble of electoral politics on her own behalf," said David Birdsell of Baruch College.

Sources told WCBS that Caroline Kennedy is already rolling up her sleeves for the political battle. She's called loads of Democrats to get their support -- everyone from NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Assembly Speaker Sheldon silver to Time Warner honcho Dick Parsons and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

"She's diligent," Sharpton told WCBS. "She's very studious, very methodical. She's nobody you can underestimate."

Just last week, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg glowed in his review of Kennedy.

"Caroline Kennedy can do anything, I think," Bloomberg said.

The reaction on the streets across the tri-state area was mixed.

"I don't think she's qualified," said Ayten Adler of New Rochelle. "I don't think she's done anything and if it weren't for her name we wouldn't be talking about her."

"I think everyone learns on the job," Elena Zarchy of Manhasset said. "I, myself, was a teacher. People will show her the way and she'll make it there."

"I wonder what kind of experience she has," added Tom McKenna of Midtown.

Caroline Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard and Columbia Law. She has also written seven books, helped Barack Obama select a vice presidential running mate, and in New York City has raised millions for public education. source>>>

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