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I Don't Have to Pick Caroline: Paterson

'She’s just another person. So what? Her name is Kennedy'

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 9, 2009 2:15 PM CST

(Newser) – Not so fast, Caroline Kennedy: Your lack of elected-office experience “does not help” your bid to replace Hillary Clinton, warns the man who will decide your congressional fate. Gov. David Paterson said there are “10 to 15 good candidates” to fill New York’s open Senate seat, and scolded the media for obsessing over one person, the Buffalo News reports.

“The notion that I have to take Caroline is not coming from me,” Paterson said, prompting a Democratic consultant to theorize that his tough talk means “he’s telling people that it’s his decision and he doesn’t like being pushed around.” Another operative speculated, “He’s done nothing but weaken her during the process—maybe that’s because he really doesn’t want her.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (3)]

New York Gov. David Paterson speaks during a news conference in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. Caroline Kennedy has told Paterson that she's interested in the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by... (AP Photo)

In this March 7, 2005, file photo, Caroline Kennedy, sits in front of an image of her late father President John F. Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Caroline Kennedy... (AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki, File)

New York Gov. David Paterson may be concerned about his own re-election in 2010 as he ponders whom to appoint to the Senate, a Democratic operative says. (AP Photo)

New York Gov. David Paterson scolded the media for assisting Caroline Kennedy in her efforts to be a New York senator. (Getty Images)

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Why do you all pay so much attention to her? She’s just another person. So what? Her name is Kennedy. Why do you pay so much attention to her? I’m not reacting to what I think, I’m reacting to what I see. - Gov. David Paterson

One thing that helps her is the tremendous attention that you all give her works to her advantage. Maybe if you didn’t give her so much attention she wouldn’t have it. - Gov. David Paterson, New York, on Caroline Kennedy

Her lack of elected experience does not help her, but the point is it’s the combination of experiences I’ll look at in terms of all the candidates, and also how balanced the ticket would look. - Gov. David Paterson, New York, on Caroline Kennedy

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I Don't Have to Pick Caroline: Paterson