Caroline Kennedy’s challenge

Caroline Kennedy still has some time to convince New Yorkers that she’s the right person to replace Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

But she has to act fast.

Obviously, Governor Paterson can appoint whomever he chooses. But currently, a Kennedy pick would look like pure dynasty-building.

In her initial forays into the public spotlight, Ms. Kennedy has shown absolutely no reason why she should be The Choice.

She first tried avoiding the media entirely, never a good sign in New York Politics.

Then she set off on an interview tour that revealed no spark, no fresh new thinking, no hidden talent for this sort of thing.

Frankly, she seemed thin-skinned at times — and not particularly charismatic.

Her lack of political activism in New York has been, well, disappointing.

Put bluntly, Ms. Kennedy needs to wow New York. She needs to make her case clearly, passionately, and unambiguously.

Otherwise, she and her family should move quickly to rescue Governor Paterson from the no-win political conundrum they have created.