Battle For Clinton's Senate Seat Already Underway

Few events in politics unleash as much raw ambition -- or unravel as many friendships -- as the sudden availability of a seat in the United States Senate.

Few Senate seats are as storied and prestigious as the one likely to be vacated next year by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is said to be President-elect Barack Obama's choice for secretary of state.

And few relationships have been put under more pressure by Mrs. Clinton's probable departure than the one between Gov. David A. Paterson, the man with the sole authority to pick Mrs. Clinton's replacement, and Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, the governor's longtime friend but potential rival.

In the days since word leaked that Mrs. Clinton's seat would probably become available, Mr. Cuomo's name has been widely mentioned as the obvious choice to succeed her -- too obvious, in the estimation of some close to the governor.

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