Paterson Expected To Pick JFK’s Daughter For U.S. Senate
by Matt at Jan 19th, 2009
DESPITE claims that he’s still undecided, Gov. Paterson is “certain” to pick Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate, several unhappy contenders for the job have told friends and associates in recent days.
The contenders based their conclusion on the view that Paterson, after nearly two months of indecision, would “greatly embarrass” and “entirely humiliate” Kennedy, anger her prominent political family and even offend President-elect Barack Obama by picking someone other than President John F. Kennedy’s daughter.
As for the governor’s claim to be weighing a last-minute finalist, the contenders agree with a close Paterson friend who said, “It’s clear David is just trying to play mind games with the press.”
So, if all this is true, how is this any different than selling tho seat the highest bidder?
It is clear that if Paterson picks Caroline, he expects to have a primary challenger in 2010, if not a formidable Republican rival, and thus wants the Kennedy muscle behind him. But I think if he makes this pick, it weakens him in the short term enough that he is only inviting other Democrats to step up and oppose him. And Caroline herself may welcome a challenger who seeks to capitalize on discontent with the circumstances of her selection for the Senate.