Caroline Kennedy Withdraws Senate Seat Bid

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UPDATE - 1/22 6:00PM:

The New York Post now adds a few more elements to the confusion surrounding Caroline Kennedy's exit, reporting that Paterson never intended to pick her due to issues over taxes, her nanny and even the state of her marriage:

Kennedy was "mired in some potentially embarrassing personal issues," the source said, citing tax liabilities and worker compensation liabilities connected to the employment of a nanny.

"She has a tax problem that came up in the vetting and a potential nanny issue," the source said. "And reporters are starting to look at her marriage more closely," the source continued, refusing to provide any specifics.

UPDATE - 1/22: The New York Times reports that tax problems, not personal issues, may have derailed Kennedy's candidacy:

Problems involving taxes and a household employee surfaced during the vetting of Caroline Kennedy and derailed her candidacy for the Senate, a person close to Gov. David A. Paterson said on Thursday, in an account at odds with Ms. Kennedy's own description of her reasons for withdrawing.

UPDATE - 1/21 12:35PM:

Kennedy confirms her withdrawal after conflicting reports about whether or not she was still interested in the Senate seat, reports the AP:

Caroline Kennedy says she is dropping out of a bid to win appointment to the U.S. Senate seat once held by her slain uncle, Bobby Kennedy.

In a statement released early Thursday, she says she told Gov. David Paterson that she is abandoning her attempt to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton for personal reasons.

UPDATE - 1/21 9:45PM:

Some of Kennedy's closest confidantes claimed to be unaware of her decision to drop out, reports The New York Daily News:

A family source said cousin Kerry Kennedy spoke with both Paterson and Caroline Kennedy's political consultant, Josh Isay, and neither was aware she was bowing out.

Paterson, the source said, told Kerry Kennedy "he hasn't heard it and he's made no decision that would provoke her to leave."

UPDATE - 1/21 8:00PM:

The New York Post is reporting that the real reason Caroline Kennedy withdrew her Senate seat bid was because she learned she wouldn't be picked by NY Governor David Paterson. The paper reports that her concerns over her uncle Ted Kennedy's health are not the main reason for her withdrawal:

Caroline Kennedy tonight withdrew her name from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate after learning that Gov. David Paterson wasn't going to choose her, The Post has learned...

Sources said the reason Paterson had decided not to tap the daughter of John F. Kennedy was her poor performances in media interviews and in in private sessions with various officials.

UPDATE - 1/21: Caroline Kennedy is withdrawing her name from consideration for Hillary Clinton's vacant Senate seat.

Kennedy cited "personal reasons," according to the New York Post.

The New York Times elaborates that she was concerned about her uncle, Ted Kennedy, who suffered a seizure on Tuesday:

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.

UPDATE - 1/02: Officials tell the AP that Caroline Kennedy will be New York's next senator.

UPDATE - 12/24: The New York Times reports that "Democratic officials" in New York are beginning to resist the idea of Caroline Kennedy being appointed to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, "with Gov. David A. Paterson bristling over suggestions that her selection is inevitable, according to his advisers, and other leading Democrats concerned that she is too beholden to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg."

The governor is frustrated and chagrined, the advisers said, because he believes that he extended Ms. Kennedy the chance to demonstrate her qualifications but that her operatives have exploited the opportunity to convey a sense that she is all but appointed already. He views this as an attempt to box him in, the advisers said.

"You have people going around saying, 'Oh yeah, it's a done deal,'" said one of the advisers, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the selection process and did not want to anger the governor. "The quickest way to not get something you want is to step into somebody's face."

As the Times notes, Bloomberg aides have apparently been actively pushing for Kennedy behind the scenes. One top labor leader said he received a call from top Bloomberg aide Kevin Sheekey saying that Kennedy was going to be the next senator from New York, "so get on board now."

That said, "It was not clear on Tuesday whether the governor's reaction would seriously damage Ms. Kennedy's chances to win the appointment or if it merely reflected Mr. Paterson's desire to regain control of the selection process after Ms. Kennedy's very public political debut."

More potentially bad press for Kennedy on Wednesday: "The Camelot heiress' net worth easily tops $100 million," a New York Daily News review found.

The former First Daughter is refusing to release financial information as she seeks to become New York's next senator, maintaining her family dynasty's longstanding practice of keeping its fortune tightly under wraps.

Public records paint a portrait of an enormously wealthy 51-year-old woman, whose dad, 35th President John F. Kennedy, is featured on the half-dollar coin.

Caroline's "crown jewel appears to be the 366-acre ocean-side estate on Martha's Vineyard passed down by her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis," and estimated to be worth $50 million to $75 million. She also oversees a large portion of JFK's share of a "massive family trust - with never-disclosed millions invested in real estate, gas and oil."

See a slideshow of Kennedy through the ages:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Caroline Kennedy, Gov. David Paterson, Kirsten Gillibrand... Click through to see Kennedy through the ages...

UPDATE 12/10: The New York Observer endorses Kennedy:

As Governor David Paterson mulls a list of terrific candidates to fill Hillary Clinton's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat, near or at the top of that list should be Caroline Kennedy.

Ms. Kennedy's unexpected availability could make the governor's decision much easier. He's bound to alienate one group or another--perhaps several--if he chooses from among the pool of politicians already in office. While New York would be well represented by several of the potential would-be senators, none has the star power, magnetism and, let's face it, the magic of Caroline Kennedy.

UPDATE 12/9 The New York Times reports that Caroline Kennedy's uncle, Ted, has been working hard behind the scenes to have her appointed to Hillary Clinton's New York Senate seat:

While Caroline Kennedy is maintaining her public silence about whether she wishes to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton, her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, has been working behind the scenes on her behalf, according to Democratic aides.

In recent days the Massachusetts senator has called Gov. David A. Paterson and Senator Charles E. Schumer, as well as Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who took over last month as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee when Mr. Schumer stepped down.

UPDATE 12/8: Sources close to Gov. Paterson say Caroline Kennedy's chances of replacing Hillary Clinton are slim, the New York Post reports:

The odds of Gov. Paterson choosing Caroline Kennedy to replace soon-to-be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate are no better than 20-1, a source close to the governor said yesterday.

The source was responding to news that Sen. Ted Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other family members have been pushing hard for Caroline to replace Clinton. "It looks to me like [Caroline's cousin] Bobby Kennedy may be trying to push Caroline more than Caroline is pushing herself," a Paterson administration source told The Post.

UPDATE 12/7: The New York Post reports that Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy is lobbying for his niece Caroline.

Powerful senator and family patriarch Ted Kennedy has been working back channels to promote niece Caroline as the replacement for Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate, family sources told The Post.

The elder Kennedy (D-Mass.), who's battling brain cancer, has sent word to Gov. Paterson's office that Caroline Kennedy, 51, has contacts and family connections that would mean legislation affecting New York would receive prompt attention, family sources said.

UPDATE 6pm EST

AP is now reporting that Caroline Kennedy approached New York Governor Paterson about taking over Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. Earlier reports said she had talked to the Governor, but did not indicate her interest in the seat.

Read more from the AP and see an excerpt below:

Caroline Kennedy has spoken to New York Gov. David Paterson about the Senate seat that will come open when Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes secretary of state, according to a person familiar with the conversation.

Kennedy reached out to the governor to discuss the Senate seat, according to the Democratic source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversation was private. The source would not disclose the details of the conversation.

---
ABC News reports that Hillary Clinton's Senate seat might be filled by none other than Caroline Kennedy:

Another Senator Kennedy? The crazy speculation about Hillary Clinton's Senate seat may not be so crazy after all. A Democrat who would know tells ABC News that New York governor David Paterson has talked to Caroline Kennedy about taking the seat, which was once held by her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy. It's not exactly shocking that Paterson would reach out to one of the most highly respected public figures in New York, but this is: Sources say Kennedy is considering it, and has not ruled out coming to Washington to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

A few years ago, the famously private Caroline Kennedy would be the last Kennedy expected to serve in Congress, but of course, she took on a much more high-profile role during the presidential campaign and, if she does it, would be more than New York's junior Senator; she'd have closer ties to the Obama White House than any of her colleagues, a direct line to the East Wing.

Read more about Clinton's Senate seat.

Comments

[voltage356]

04:33 PM on 01/23/2009

It's only the little people who pays taxes... Leona Hemsley

[Ipanemagirl]

01:58 PM on 01/23/2009

Honestly, whats wrong with giving Caroline a chance at the senate seat? At least she is a true democrat and the kennedys would lend her a helping hand if she is unfamiliar with the issues.
Again, why does one have to disclose all family fortunes to get a job to serve the people? We already know she is wealthy! If shes willing to take the senate job, it its not that she needs the money!! She wants to contribute to politics as much of her family has.
I dont want to hear about her personal life,, unless it interferes with her job directly, which I doubt it does.
Republicans just want to be bad losers and squabble over the left overs like starving turkeys..Lets not give them the power toinfluence our decisions or push their agenda,,, they have done enough damage in the last 8 yrs, enough is enough!

[thirdeyeview]

11:10 AM on 01/23/2009

I am in total agreement with SiberianRat. This is not Fox, I think Caroline Kennedy did the right thing by quoting personal reasons and put a diplomatic end to it. With over 56% marriages ending in divorces, what or who has decided that the members of congress have to have the personal morality of god. It is OK to have a reformed alcoholic as a President but "troubles in marriage" are not good enough for a Senator. Aren't we all hypocrites.

I wish them bloggers and press could devote more time and spce to the crisis on hand and keep us citizens better informed than try to divert our attention from the pain. At this time she does not want to be a Senator, so her life is out of bounds for you, me and everybody else,

[MagisterLudi]

12:54 PM on 01/23/2009

From get-go Ck presented herself in a negative luight. She began her quest with a letter to Obama?! How gauche!!
I can just see it: Hey. remember me?. I put in those 6 weeks for you and gave you Kennedy seal of approval. Time for a payback. Can you call Paterson for me and straighten him out. Cheers."

[SiberianRat]

10:32 AM on 01/23/2009

"...Kennedy's Bungled Bid?" C'mon HP--these headlines and taglines are getting to be too much. This isn't FOX.

[BlueAsh]

10:41 AM on 01/23/2009

I agree!

[Puzes]

10:54 AM on 01/23/2009

Me too!

[stonelaw]

10:29 AM on 01/23/2009

Carolines' 366 acre ocean side property on Martha's Vineyard as her crown jewel? NO WAY! FIrst of all, the property was purchased through a "staw" from a person whose initials are RWP. I knew him (he's deceased) - he's my uncle! The total acres sold was a little over 100.

Also, over a year ago, she gifted much of it to the Aquinnah Indian Reservation as property that would be not be touched with development. The remainder was divided into 4 pretty much equal size parcels of which Caroline kept one.

I'm only mentioning this to point out how stores you read can be totally, absolutely incorrect. Don't believe everything you read!

[longislandlol]

10:21 AM on 01/23/2009

If all the politicos marriages were a determining factor-- the gov. himself would be scrutinized-- but we gave him a pass---

[Stefano]

10:07 AM on 01/23/2009

More than likely, this congress will have no choice but to raise taxes some. If its true that she hasn't been paying her fair share, this would have just re-inforced the stereotype of limo liberal - do as I say and not as I do.

[StephCaster]

10:45 AM on 01/23/2009

As opposed to the Republican mantra of "I'll say whatever you want to hear, then screw you."

[IssuesInFocus]

10:05 AM on 01/23/2009

From what the governor, has decided --picking Gallibrand, says to me he's not interested in remaining governor after his term ends. Gives up 'palling around with an known quantity for an 'unknown.' Political savvy of the 21st century. Sorry Caroline!

[BlueAsh]

10:44 AM on 01/23/2009

It seems Gillibrand palls around with the Clintons and so she is not exactly an unknown. This may be Hillary's missing WMD.

[BryanMiller]

08:40 AM on 01/23/2009

For the folks who seem to be upset that New York will be getting a moderate Democratic Senator, you seem to be making two simple mistakes.

1. You either don't realize or you forget who and what Hillary Clinton was.

2. You assume New York State is New York City.

Only Republicans think the Clintons are Liberal, because they aren't at all. And Upstate New York is not a Liberal area, Hillary had to work hard to earn those folk's trust. Yet Caroline Kennedy seemed to think her family name and Liberal cred would be enough to convince Patterson. She clearly takes after her mother more than her father's family, and that's fine, but you can't hide your whole life, then expect to be given a seat in the US Senate because your last name is famous. If you're going to work in politics, you'd better be a political animal. You either are or you're not, and you can't just one day decide you want to give it a try. It's not in the blood, it's in the heart, and she doesn't have the heart for it.

[ATruthBeKnown]

08:25 AM on 01/23/2009

This Gov will be remembered for the shoddy handling of this mess and his failure to keep his staff under control. He has done the state of New York a dddddddis-service and his career.

Remember Gov. you had a shot her to become a winner and show us that you are a class act. We need to find and groom your replacement ASAP.

Step up New York

[zapper501]

08:21 AM on 01/23/2009

you know i wasnt a big fan of the caroline appointment but it is just crazy that she withdrew because she slept with another consenting adult. i find that just hard to understand. its pitiful

[nandocarvalho]

08:12 AM on 01/23/2009

why this man say forgotten things about america.
have a look www.valeriusmaximus.wordpress.com

[rudyinbama]

06:24 AM on 01/23/2009

Sounds like we've gone from bad tro worse.
Why on earth does Paterson think New York, of all places, wants a Blue Dog Democrat?
It doesn't sound like she'll be much of a help to Obama.
Why not Maloney or Cuomo - people New Yorkers actually want?
Or get Liz Holtzmann out of retiremernt.

[harriscrl3]

08:20 AM on 01/23/2009

I'm a NY'er and I dont want this woman. She is democrat in name only. I seriously dont think she has a prayer downstate with her Progun NRA 100 point score. I hope other democrats run against her. I dont see her winning.

Carol

[ATruthBeKnown]

08:28 AM on 01/23/2009

true that

[VA Lady2008]

06:17 AM on 01/23/2009

Apparently I was the only person on the planet who remembered that Caroline Kennedy was married to Edward Schlossberg. I haven't noticed her using that name (not unusual) but I also didn't notice his appearing EVER with her during her shortlived and ultimately disastrous listening tour.

It doesn't take much imagination to conjure up with a picture of trouble, somewhere. I've read that the lady is an intensely private person, and were I in her shoes, given all the family complications, I would be as well. That's fair enough: she doesn't owe the public one thing under those circumstances.

However, once you throw your hat into the ring, your entire life ceases, utterly and completely to be private, and likely forever. Nanny problems? Tax problems? Husband problems? I should have thought that a lady as reputedly as smart as she would have observed how Governor Palin, who had children, ethics, and husband problems, at a minimum, and was unable to keep it covered up.

Either Ms. Kennedy was very badly advised (a major possibility) OR she's not as smart as people supposed. Or maybe she's a fool who thought the 21st century rules didn't apply to her. No matter which, she was unfit to serve in the Senate.

[Kerris]

07:38 AM on 01/23/2009

Just as an FYI, as it seems so important to your inferences: Caroline Kennedy never took her husbands name. Only the press used the Kennedy-Schlossberg label. She never changed from her maiden name.

Personally, I'm not stressed either way, and do understand if nanny and tax issues come up why a person needs to be pulled from the running, but.... "the state of her marriage"? Pardon? What on earth is that about? Have we become uber-right wing Repubs all of a sudden?

[Mij13]

03:08 AM on 01/23/2009

Nobody feels sorry for a girl on a yacht. Her idea of becoming a senator at this point was a mistake, and it looks like she knows it and is not too disappointed. If this was something she really wanted, she would have run years ago.