NY-Sen-B: Kennedy to Withdraw From Senate Bid (Updated)

NY Times:

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.

On Wednesday she called the governor, David Paterson, who is making the selection of who should succeed Senator Hillary Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after a seizure during the inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with the health issues of her uncle, with whom she enjoys an extraordinarily close bond, was her most important priority; a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.

She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.

According to the Times, Paterson will be announcing his selection on Saturday. I’m glad that Kennedy is doing the right thing by clearing the way for DavidNYC.

UPDATE (David): Now there are conflicting reports, with some anonymous family members allegedly saying she has not pulled out. Governor, my transition team is getting antsy!

LATER UPDATE (James): It’s official:

I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate.

(Hat-tip: Jeremiah)

91 thoughts on “NY-Sen-B: Kennedy to Withdraw From Senate Bid (Updated)”

  1. For saving us all the embarrassment. But I can’t help thinking; yesterday Uncle Teddy collapsed at the Inauguration and now Caroline’s taken herself out of an entry into politics. Now that Obama’s President, is this some kind of sign that the Kennedy era has finally passed the torch to the next generation?

  2. Are 30 years of age? I thought you were in oyur late 20s. Oh well, I’m sure it will be Cuomo, though there has suddenly been some discussion of Rep. Kirsten Gillenbrand, who Patterson recently had discussion with, and whose name is still aparently on the list. So is the mayor of Buffallo, but I don’t think that he’s a very serious option, not well enough known, or experience enough in national politics.

    (Just watch it be the Mayor of Bufallo though, just because I said it wouldn’t be and that he wouldn’t be a good choice its going to be him).  

  3. But I really hope Paterson doesn’t pick a sitting House member, ESPECIALLY not Kirsten Gillibrand. The DCCC doesn’t need to start stretching its budget, however mammoth it may be, this early on.

  4. I don’t know what I read that planted it, but I have the impression that he’s an asshole.  (Perhaps he was an antagonist to both Spitzer and Paterson from the right(ish)?  Would that be accurate?)

    I’m still of the Carolyn Maloney persuasion.  Although Christine Quinn would be pretty cool.  That is strictly identity politics on my part though and not really to be taken seriously.

  5. Told her he’s leaning or going in a different direction and gave her this option to save face.

    I’m guessing Cuomo will be the pick, but with Kennedy out of the picture I wouldn’t totally dismiss the darkhorse options of Gillibrand or Byron Brown.

    If Cuomo’s the pick, I doubt Peter King runs. Against Kennedy he could use the populist angle, and he could use it against Cuomo as well but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful.

  6. She was smeared by a lot of people who had no idea what they were talking about, and were hypocrites on the experience question.

  7. gillibrand. shes the only one who really stands out from the cadre of reps. woman, upstate, amazing fund raising ability. cuomo would allow a vacancy that i believe the house gets to appoint and theyre not too cozy w paterson right now. none of the mayors stand out that much, either. im still sad, though. im from mass and the kennedys r royalty here. no senator sweet caroline gives me sad face

  8. http://publicpolicypolling.blo

    PPP Burr-Shuler match up.  

    Burr Approval

    Approve 33

    Disapprove 30

    Shuler Favorability

    Favorable 21

    Unfavorable 21

    Head to Head:

    Burr 39

    Shuler 28

    Noted in the article, this is reflective of an early Dole-Miller PPP poll from 2008.  

  9. Step 1: Hillary Clinton nominated as Secratary of State

    Step 2: Among other candidates Caroline Kennedy expresses interest in Senate appointment. She has served as a close adviser to uncle Ted Kennedy known as the “liberal lion” and lays out progressive positions on the issues including support for marriage equality.

    Step 3: Liberal blogs are outraged, DYNASTY they cry.

    Step 4: Paterson decides not to appoint Kennedy, she withdraws.

    Step 5: He appoints a Blue Dog, Kirsten Gillibrand to Clinton’s Senate seat. She goes on to continue her moderate voting record and Democrats lose her House seat.

    Maybe I’m overreacting and this still has not all been decided  but I’m not particularly happy with how this has gone so far. If Gillibrand ends up being the pick that will be extremely frustrating.

    Paterson had a easy choice that could have avoided all of this, DavidNYC.  

  10. Hillary Clinton’s Secretary of State nomination was approved by the Senate 94-2.  The two who voted nay were Vitter and DeMint.  I really hope we rid the Senate of that assclown Vitter, but I’m not holding my breath.

  11. officially vacant:

    According to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Senate office, she has resigned as a New York senator after taking the oath of office as the nation’s 67th secretary of state.

    For the record, the oath was administered at 5:29 p.m. by Kathleen Oberly, Associate Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, in a private ceremony at her office in the Russell Senate Office Building.

    “This letter is to inform you that I resign my seat in the United States Senate effective immediately in order to assume my duties as Secretary of State of the United States,” Clinton wrote in three identical letters sent to the President of the Senate Joseph R. Biden, the Secretary of the Senate, and New York Governor David Paterson.

    Two of the letters were handed delivered. Paterson received his letter via fax.

  12. I still like Higgins.  A dark horse for sure, but he’s been a great asset to WNY and would be great for the state as a whole.

  13. The real problem is that the “special” election that would allow voters to have their say regarding the seat isn’t scheduled until the 2010 general election.

    If there had been an appointment with a special election for the seat to follow in 90 or 120 days, then the appointment wouldn’t have taken on so much import. And it would have been far less embarrassing for all involved. And fairer to the people of New York too.

    Sometimes, it’s better for elected official’s own benefit not to have still more power. I think this power to appoint a senator for nearly two years may be one of them.

  14. to hold this seat and run for it in 2010.  and i like that.

    cuomo, gillibrand, maloney all look pretty good to me.  and does paterson really care who the assembly picks for AG?  i mean compared to how much he cares if he has a serious opponent in a primary in ’10?

    kennedy is a nice person and in some ways an attractive candidate, but her shyness and lack of interest in running for public office – even this year – made me think that she was a very risky choice.  and why do we need to take risks?

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