The New York Post’s Fred Dicker says Caroline Kennedy is a shoo-in. He cites unnamed sources. At least one is described as an also-ran for the seat.<\/p>\n
Dicker is pretty reliable for getting the inside dope, but in this case there are a couple of caveats.<\/p>\n
First, no one is claiming to actually know Governor Paterson’s mind. They only intuit that it would be politically damaging at this point for him to reject a Kennedy. <\/p>\n
The argument here is that it would “greatly embarrass” the Kennedy clan if Paterson pulled a switcheroo. <\/p>\n
So what’s Paterson up to with all the talk of a second look? <\/p>\n
According to one of Dicker’s sources, “It’s clear David is just trying to play mind games with the press.” <\/p>\n
I remain unconvinced.<\/p>\n
It’s not entirely clear to me how Kennedy helps Paterson’s re-election bid. And that seems to be a priority for the Governor. <\/p>\n
Also, if his goal here is not to embarrass the Kennedy clan, then floating all this indecision is a pretty clumsy way to go about it.<\/p>\n
For the record, here’s Governor Paterson himself, as reported by the Albany Times Union:<\/p>\n
\u201cI would figure that by this weekend, we would come up with a candidate,\u201d he said. \u201cI would say I\u2019ve narrowed the field, but I . . . don\u2019t seem to stay with the same pick for a period of time. I\u2019ve tried seeing how it works with different scenarios. I just haven\u2019t settled on it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paterson later added that he was \u201cfocusing in on a few candidates now that I think, in my mind, would be finalists,\u201d but brushed aside accusations that he made up his mind long ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can say, definitively, I do not know who the next senator from New York is right now,\u201d Paterson said. \u201cI would swear to it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The notion that Governor Paterson would hang Ms. Kennedy out there simply to play mind games with reporters — well, it’s a strech.<\/p>\n
At the end of this (completely secretive) process, I hope the Governor can lay out his reasons for making the pick.<\/p>\n
And I’m holding out hope that his motives will be loftier than Dicker’s article suggests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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