Dec 16, 2008 7:15 pm US/Eastern
Kennedy Keeping Low Profile About N.Y. Senate Seat
News Of Her Quest To Be N.Y.'s Next Junior Senator Is Everywhere, But Still No Word From Kennedy Herself
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Caroline Kennedy (file)
AP
For someone who wants to be New York's next senator, Caroline Kennedy has been pretty low key about it.
In fact, she hasn't been seen or heard from publically.
Okay, it's known she wants it. The news is everywhere. Kennedy wants to be Sen. Kennedy, continuing a long tradition of Sen. Kennedy's.
So why isn't she talking?
"My wife and I were talking about that this morning at breakfast," one woman told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City on Tuesday.
She's done the phone lobbying thing with Gov. Paterson, who will ultimately choose the Senatorial successor to Hillary Clinton. Sources close to Kennedy tell WCBS-TV she has been reaching out behind the scenes to New York State's top Democrats.
But to stay so silent and under the radar, while pining for New York's prime political post?
"She needs to get out there and speak, speak, speak ... and let us know what she wants to do with New York," one New Yorker said.
WCBS-TV was curious, too, and had a photographer at her home for hours and never saw her.
In fact, it's been more than a week since she was last seen in public at the Kennedy Center Honors. Just a couple months ago WCBS-TV asked her if she had any political aspirations. She was non-committal.
"Well, I've really enjoyed working with the schools and as I've said I think that's an issue that I care about and will always work on," Kennedy had said. "So I'm really happy to be doing that and I find that very fulfilling, and I've got some book projects that I'm working on so I don't know."
Political pundit Larry Levy said her behavior of late has been odd, but not unexpected.
"It should be seen as an odd way, except that it's now the common way," Levy said.
Levy is a political expert from Hofstra University and said this type of low profile strategy is not uncommon.
"It is a way of showing your respect ... and floating trial balloons to see what kind of response you get," Levy said.
On Tuesday a prominent family member worked to grease the political skids.
"I know Caroline to be incredibly intelligent and talented and whatever she commits herself to she does a great job," Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy said.
Practically from birth Caroline Kennedy has felt the glare of the white hot spotlight that came with Camelot, and has spent much of her adult life trying to avoid that kind of attention.
Now, with her Senate aspiration laid bare and her famous name that will no longer be possible.
"I think she has the genetic coding to do it," Levy said.
And soon ... maybe she'll say so herself.
A spokesperson for Caroline Kennedy had no comment for WCBS-TV's story.
WCBSTV.com asked viewers their opinion on Kennedy's aspirations. Here's some of what was received:
Joanne from Brooklyn said, "I don't think just being from a political family qualifies a person for the U.S. Senate. She has no record and should be voted in by the people, not by the governor. I have no idea what her beliefs are or her stand on any important issues."
Chris from NYC added, "Caroline Kennedy has spent a lifetime working with and for the humanities. It's refreshing to have someone who already has the star power to stand upon, but without the old, corrupt tendencies of Washington D.C."
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