Out With Clinton, In With Kennedy? New York Switching Dynasties!

With all eyes in New York focused on Hillary Clinton's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat, a new contender has emerged to try for the title. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, niece of Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), niece of former New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has apparently informed Governor David Paterson that she is interested in the job.


It remains to be seen if Paterson agrees that she is the right person, or that she has the political stamina to run in a special election in 2010 and then for reelection in 2012, but it is known that Paterson would like to appoint another woman to replace Clinton. Ted Kennedy, for his part, appears eager to push Caroline into a position of power.

Caroline is a very interesting figure, having rejected her family's political heirloom throughout her entire life until Obama's candidacy attracted her attention and her vehement public support, writing a brilliant op-ed for the New York Times that passed her father's mantle of hope to this newcomer from Illinois.


She also followed Barack Obama's educational path, just in reverse order - Harvard undergrad followed by Columbia Law.

Obama certainly wouldn't mind having such a committed ally in the Senate, and the Democratic establishment is certainly partial to the Kennedy name (remains the most popular political family in America - no offense to George, George, and Jeb).

We'll see how this turns out. It would certainly make for one more compelling page in the Kennedy narrative.