Q Poll: Voters “Semi-Sweet” On Caroline
While New Yorkers are evenly split over whether Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be a U.S senator, her swing through upstate last week did little to convince the region’s voters that she is ready for the position, a Quinnipiac Poll today found.
The poll found that New York voters are split 40 percent to 41 percent on whether Kennedy is qualified to succeed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, but by a 48 percent to 25 percent margin believe that Gov. David Paterson will appoint Kennedy anyway.
Thirty-three percent of voters say Paterson should name Kennedy, while 29 percent want Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Twenty-four percent want someone else.
Kennedy is less attractive to upstate voters than Cuomo, the Quinnipiac Poll reported. Cuomo leads Kennedy 31 percent to 27 percent in upstate, even though Kennedy tried to woo upstate political leaders on a quick tour of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse last week.
Kennedy leads Cuomo 42 percent to 27 percent among New York City voters and ties Cuomo with 30 percent each among suburban voters.
“Will we get another Kennedy in the Senate? Only Gov. David Paterson knows for sure. Among New Yorkers in general, Caroline Kennedy’s grade is just okay,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac Poll.
The daughter of late President John F. Kennedy has come under persistent criticism from Democrats and Republicans over her lack of qualifications for the job and the poor rollout of her effort to convince Paterson she’s right for the job.
Paterson is expected to appoint Clinton’s successor next month when Clinton is confirmed as secretary of state in the Obama administration.
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Gov. Paterson should appoint Caroline Kennedy to the soon-to-be “open” U.S. Senate seat now held by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Why?
First: open Senate seats are usually filled in the short run by those who do not win them in the next election cycle. Think: Goodell, in New York, in 1970; Pierre Salinger, in California, in 1964.
Second: Caroline Kennedy is one of those rara avises who simply “deserves” to be in the U. S. Senate. Ms. Kennedy is uncontroversial; she is an intellectual, of significant character, unbeholden to the selfish, egomaniacal power mongers who seek to run New York. She could easily lose the general election in 2010 to a strong, well-funded and ego-centered challenger. But then, the voters would have spoken. In the time-being, Caroline Kennedy is a noble choice.
I do enjoy seeing the NY Democrats tearing themselves apart over this non-controversial, potential nomination. The frustrated, Dem egomaniacs are going nuts.
Me, the Republican, and a contemporary of Ms. Kennedy’s—well, I have been a fan of hers since 1963. She can do no wrong in my eyes. Note: I thought Nixon should have won in 1960. Further: I was saddened at the assassinations of both her father and uncle.
But Caroline Kennedy has made a life of which we should all be envious. She had the greatest mother in public history. She has never made a public spectacle of herself. She is a wonderful woman. She would be a great choice as interim Senator—because the best qualified candidate, Republican Congressman Peter King, is not going to be appointed.