Kennedy Reaches Out To Clinton Directly

Caroline Kennedy has called Hillary Clinton to discuss her interest in the New York Senator's seat, a source close to Clinton tells the Huffington Post. But the two, as of Monday, had yet to actually speak.

"[Kennedy] called," said the source, "but they hadn't connected as of yesterday morning."

Nevertheless, Kennedy's outreach to Clinton, who is leaving her seat to become Secretary of State, is another chapter in what is quickly becoming a fairly comprehensive public and private campaign for the Senate post. Kennedy has additionally been in touch with a host of prominent New York figures, including Governor David Paterson, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Kennedy has also hired a well-connected political hand to help steer her candidacy to success. Josh Isay, former chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Schumer and founder of the political consulting firm Knickerbocker SKD, is a well-connected figure within New York politics. He is controversial in progressive circles, in part because of a client list that includes Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Benjamin Netanyahu. But Isay also has obvious connections that could aid Kennedy in the short term, including ties to New York politicos and powerhouse unions like the SEIU.

Even with Isay's help, the key sticking point for Kennedy remains: whether or not she can placate Clinton's backers in New York, many of whom seem tepid or antagonistic towards her candidacy.

Multiple reports indicate that supporters of the former first lady -- not to mention the Clintons themselves -- weren't willing to simply forget Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama during the Democratic primary. Others, including several Clinton fundraisers, have made public statements that the former first daughter simply isn't qualified for the Senate. But the source close to Clinton insists that their differences are not caused by hurt feelings, but rather preferences for other New York politicians.

"The Clintons aren't going to do anything against her," said the source. "I think they had just been more emotionally attached to names that surfaced before hers did, like Randi Weingarten [of the United Federation of Teachers] and [Rep.] Carolyn Maloney."

Asked for comment, Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines responded: "This is entirely Governor Paterson's decision, Senator Clinton completely respects the privacy of his process so will not be commenting on it or any individual candidate, nor does any third party speak on her behalf."

Comments

[McChimp]

So the same people that are getting worked up that Caroline Kennedy isn't EXPERIENCED enough say that Obama's picks aren't change and are the status quo... which is it? Is experience important, or is new bl00d important?

And if you really look at experience, Caroline Kennedy has the same experience as Barack Obama, minus the political experience, and the same experience as Al Franken minus being a stand up comedian and radio host. I've seen Franken get t rashed for not being experienced enough because he was ONLY a stand up comic, radio host, and author; now I'm seeing similar things happening with Caroline Kennedy. These Demopukes that don't want CK appointed MUST want the Repubs back in power badly, because any other appointment will have a huge chance of being defeated by a repub in 2010... don't some of you THINK? Caroline Kennedy can hold her own and is a perfect replacement for Hillary. All the experience arguments are MOOT since Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois became President and Al Franken is about to replace Norm Coleman in Minnesota. There are plenty of experienced career politicians in the Senate RIGHT NOW, and guess what... a majority of them are corrupt, including the Democratic Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House. Compared to all the corrupt politicians, Caroline Kennedy is a breath of fresh air! Let her have a s hot and if she isn't all that, vote her out in 2010... it's ONLY two years away...

[bubbuh]

Sounds like the best compromise is a well educated h00ker. Maybe, Spitzer's friend is interested.

[meko]

I think the political experience is a big, important difference. I think running for office and being vetted by the voters is a big important difference.

She's not the only democrat in the state of New York. There are many who've campaigned and served on a local level.

Experience REVEALS the qualities of an office holder. It's not that serving makes people corrupt or incompetent, it's that serving exposes those who are corrupt and incompetent. It's easy to be cynical, but the fact of the matter is that there are hundreds of people who've been elected to serve office at all levels in New York, who have served at all levels and who have demonstrated competence.

She's not being considered because she's new blood. She's being considered because she's blue blood.

[McChimp]

So I guess Obama won only because he was a Democrat according to your logic... LMAO!

And wasn't it Hillary Clinton and John McCain who tried the experience cards against Obama? Hillary with her "35 years of experience on both sides of Pennsylvania Ave" and John McCain with his "I know how to fix the economy, I know where bin Laden is, I've been a reformer, a maverick for over 25 years..." and Obama STILL won.

Face it, the experience argument is MOOT since Barack Obama WON. If you're saying that Caroline Kennedy is not experienced enough for this Senate seat, then you are in turn saying Obama isn't experienced enough to be President, since they have virtually the same level of experience.

[humanist1]

Okay, so all you Hillary fans who don't want CK, who do you want?

[Zevjeli]

Corlyn Maloney not Princess Caroline!!

[bubbuh]

I guess you're there won't be a special election then.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pppmain.asp?@spdT=B6B42829136845A69B19

[lizziekw]

Carolyn Maloney. I'd actually prefer that RFK Jr. take his dad's old seat but evidently he doesn't want it.

[psunate77]

Why don't people saying she is qualified give example on why she is qualified...

Imagine if the Repubs were doing this, Dems would be blasting them..

Country is in soo much trouble, middle and lower class don't matter at all. Hopefully we work together in 4 years and get all these people out.

[bubbuh]

Mary Bono

[sharonh]

Greg Allman, if he would be willing to move.

[McChimp]

She has about the same qualifications that Barack Obama has, minus the political experience. Hey if Al Franken gets in...

[meko]

Actually, I would have no problem with Caroline Kennedy being appointed to senator if she'd been elected to the state legislature. That would be enough for me.

Heck. Even without serving in the past, if she campaigned for the position, that would be enough.

[Big0725]

And what person would the republicans send forth in this situation? Jeb?

[jitterbug]

Caroline Kenedy is a constitutional lawyer. She's raised billions of dollars for the New York school system. She's written many successful books. Unlike Clinton, she wasn't married to a President, only the daughter of one. She's done a lot more than most Senators. If she doesn't do a good job, in the next two years, don't vote for her. After all, this country gave bush 8 years.

[rellort]

Apparently, many here do not realize that THE LAW dictates that the governor appoints a successor to the senate when the seat is vacated in mid-term.

Opine all you want Hill-butches, but you'll need to change the law to get your way............

[rellort]

Fran Drescher is the choice of Hillary's base. Says it all, doesn't it?

[Active]

No, it's not.

[sharonh]

It says to all of us that you are not well informed.

[bubbuh]

folks c'mon! rellort...­.troller..­.LOL

[sharonh]

Oh, thanks. I didn't notice.

[rellort]

What ya sayin, Bubba? That's my family name, who came to this country long time ago from Kissmyassistan!

[Big0725]

Nice catch! :)

[AlinaM]

I suppose that would be one way of making Hillary shine. That is, if Paterson appoints Drescher to succeed Hillary Clinton.

[Active]

We need Caroline Kennedy in the Senate just as much as we need Jeb Bush in there.

[boycottrightwingthings]

Caroline Kennedy has zero qualificat­ions...eve­n her name isn't really Kennedy. I mean, seriously, what has she got??

[bubbuh]

Your non-support is a hrckuva plus.

[Big0725]

Uh... her name is Caroline Bouvier Kennedy. She never changed her name after she got married.

Frigging mook!

[glorialovelace]

She did change her name. Then she changed it back when she and Schlossberg began leading separate lives.

http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2006/06/20/Caroline_Kennedys_marriage_on_the_rocks/UPI-40621150827716/

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_/ai_n19501231

http://gawker.com/5103529/new-york-times-gets-scoop-on-sulzbergers-friend-caroline-kennedy

[BoboPalinski]

The First Dude is more competent that this Kennedy woman. What is it with some of you and the Kennedys?

[McChimp]

J F K, R F K, and J F K Jr continue to toss around in their graves, thanks to ignorant comments like this one.

[k6007]

What university did he graduate from? Major? What IS with you intelligent design guys, don't you know god named that ........evolution?

[bubbuh]

You mean Obama? Riiiiiight?

[Big0725]

The first dude was about 3 IQ points above having to take the short bus to school.

[DeniseD]

LOL!

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Me thinks you are being generous. I'm thinking that they just ran out of room on the short bus and so he was left off.

[KeysDan]

This is a good run-up to putting Jeb Bush in the senate. Martinez is likely to resign before the end of his term, allowing Charlie Crist to appoint Jeb to fill the unexpired term and give a leg-up in 2010. The Bush family is calling in its chits from both Martinez and Crist. This appointment thing is great for legacy; Blagojevich was, apparently, too dull to learn how to go about all this and stay out of jail.

[bubbuh]

Good politicians know how to stay out of jail, except to visit their friends. LOL

[Active]

Yes, more Bushes and Kennedys in the Senate! Yay, oligarchy!

[McChimp]

LOL@ you comparing the Kennedy family to the corrupt Bush family.

[meko]

I'd never vote for a Bush, but I see no difference between trading on one set of family connections and another. Oligarchy is oligarchy.

[Deparis]

EXPERIENCE???!!! What experience did Hillary have in 2000? What experience did the Vice-Presi­dent-elect (Joe Biden, in case you don't know) have when he was elected Senator in his 30s? I can go on and on. What experience does any pol have before their first elected office?

People may have an issue with the selection/election process, but please shut the crap up with the "experience" meme. Lobby to have the Gov. hold a special election or to have the NY legislature vote from a list of candidates for this Senate seat, but don't question Caroline's experience. She has done a lot of public service works in NY that half if not a majority of Congressmen and women in Washington have never done for their state, let alone their county or neighborhood. That's what the people's representation was meant to be, to choose among us those who would serve and represent us to the best of their ability with honor and integrity.

[TheBlueArsenal]

You are missing our, or at least my, point. Hillary earned her Senate seat democratically. CK, if appointed, can make no such claim.

[McChimp]

Sure she did... all she did was marry Bill and was First Lady for eight years, I guess that qualifies Laura Bush as well!

[k6007]

Sure she can, as soon as she runs, and wins in '10.

[doctorwang]

No one who gets appointed can make the claim that they earned the seat democratically.

[k6007]

Qualifications-

1. Thirty yrs of age.
2. Resident of the US for at least 9 yrs.
3. A resident of the state you wish to represent.

You need a new argument.

[Big0725]

Will ANYONE win this seat democratically?

The gov. is going to install someone until Nov. of 2010. Then have a special election to fill the seat until 2012, so it will be placed back into proper rotation.

[navalvet]

The political question or analysis for Gov. Patterson should be does a Kennedy appointment help him? Many write that Caroline Kennedy brings access to money which will help a Patterson-Kennedy statewide ticket in 2010, when he runs for governor and she runs for the remaining two years of the senate term. However, she does not bring ground troops which a sitting congressman and his/her friends might bring. I also do not think that the Kennedy name has much luster, in New York State, as it has been four decades since Robert Kennedy was killed. As her likely opponent is Peter King, an accomplished politician who has the potential of doing well in parts of suburbia and upstate, Caroline Kennedy does not strike me as being up to the job requriements.
Carolyn Maloney would be a good choice, but a better choice would be someone from upstate or suburbia.

[clsmithj]

I fully support Caroline Kennedy's desire to fulfill the US Senate seat of New York.

all of you who post here on HuffPo should back her. If it was a red state, and this was a right-wing site and that person was named Sarah Phalin she'd be getting full solidarity from her supporters. We ought to do the same.

[McChimp]

Try telling that to the Hillary woo woos who still think that we're in the primary season, apparenty they STILL didn't get the memo that Hillary LOST, will NEVER be President, and that it was Hillary's choice to leave the Senate to become Secretary of State. The Hillary woo woos on this thread are acting EXACTLY like neocons, you're either with them or you're against them... GROW UP.

[glorialovelace]

This has nothing to do with Hillary. Hillary has moved on, as far as New Yorkers are concerned. It's the non-New Yorkers who can't get rid of their pathological Hillary hate, who are muddying the waters by even bringing her up.

I think Hillary will follow the lead of Obama and not endorse ANYBODY at all to take over her seat in the Senate.

[Beninn]

There it is. Harry Reid just announced his support for Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's bid for the NY Senate seat. She's not a progressive, she's a DLC Democrat supported by other DLC Democrats, Obama included.

Liberals and progressives got screwed and what's been missed in the telling of the story is how Obama stole Bill Clinton's game plan of locking progressives out of the party, to be replaced by moderate Republicans who have been shut out of the Republican Party by Christian Conservatives.

And the beat goes on. No Change, Not Now, Not Ever.

[glorialovelace]

Harry Reid needs to be kidnapped by aliens, taken to another planet and placed in a jar of formaldehyde.

[bubbuh]

Ben Smith at Politico.com is hitting Home runs today in the early bird news concerning CK with two items;


Hillary Clinton's first official words on the subject:
http://dyn.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/index.cfm/category/HillaryClinton

And Harry Reid's lobbying efforts in CK's favor:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/

[Piatt]

Thanks for the links. Boy...for those who've been denigrating her as a dilletante, a princess, a socialite, etc., it certainly looks as if she knows how to work the political system. As a New Yorker, I'd be proud to have her as my Senator. Good on you, Harry Reid.

[bubbuh]

willkommen! d;~P

[hardybear]

hmmm ... Harry Reid has reportedly let Gov. Paterson know he's backing Caroline.

[TheBlueArsenal]

Harry Reid has been an awful Majority Leader. Don't put much weight into his judgement.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/is-60-votes-overrated.html

[glorialovelace]

Why should Paterson give a flying eff what Harry Reid thinks? Paterson is not beholden to Reid, and if Reid thinks he is, then Reid needs to be removed.