Buffalo News Endorses Cuomo To Replace Hillary In The Senate
by Matt at Dec 10th, 2008
While I think an endorsement of anyone is premature at this point, I am pleased they didn’t jump on the Caroline Kennedy train.
The Western New York heart may say Brian Higgins. But the head says Andrew M. Cuomo.
It will be more than a month before Gov. David A. Paterson announces his choice to fill the Senate seat now occupied by soon-to-be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The governor has received no shortage of unsolicited advice about who he should pick. Only recently in this space we argued that, for once, someone from Western New York should be considered.
But as the speculation revs into a higher gear and more names drop into and out of consideration, hopes receed [sic] that Western New York Congressman Higgins, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown— or anyone who lives west of the Hudson — can win the nod.
Instead, the Great Mentioners are increasingly focusing on two possibilities with famous names. One is New York Attorney General Cuomo, son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo. The other is New York attorney and author Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy.
Of the two, Cuomo is by far the better choice, and a much more favorable selection for Western New York.
Of course it isn’t hard to be the better choice when the only reason Caroline Kennedy would even be considered for the job is is her surname. Of course, the Democratic Party’s new obsession with unqualified candidates for office does mean that Kennedy has a shot. She is apparently considered the favorite for the position – which baffles me.
At this I have to hope Brian Higgins gets the appointment. But, not because I think he’d be a good Senator… but because he’d only be Senator for two years and he’d leave an open seat for the GOP to try to take back.
The GOP would need a gun to take the Higgins seat back — although they likely won’t get the chance. With the appointment to the Ways and Means committee and the fact that the guy is simply the best public official of any political stripe in NYS, he’s going to be around for a long time.
How is your boss doing?