Family Fortunes: Jfk's Daughter to Run for Hillary Clinton's New York Senate Seat

For a generation whose shared memories include a photograph of a little boy and girl in sky-blue jackets at the state funeral of their father, yesterday's news that Caroline Kennedy was seeking to enter elected politics with a run for the Senate was sweet redemption.

At least for some. Reports that Kennedy, 51, the sole surviving child of the late John Kennedy, wanted to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate stirred up tender sentiments about the restoration of Camelot - and, in other quarters, a certain amount of political jealousy.

The New York Times and other news organizations, quoting friends of Kennedy, said she had decided to ask the state's governor, David Paterson, to consider her for the vacancy created by Clinton's move to secretary of state.

The move would represent the repudiation of a lifetime spent outside the political spotlight - although few would suggest Kennedy has played no role in politics.

From her home in upper east side Manhattan, she was an active figure on the charity circuit. She presented the annual Profile in Courage award, and raised millions for New York public schools.

But she did not play a big role in Democratic politics until earlier this year when with her uncle and family patriarch, Ted Kennedy, she endorsed Barack Obama's run for the White House.

The bestowing of the Kennedy seal elevated Obama from insurgent candidate to one who could take on Clinton, the establishment figure. Caroline Kennedy followed up her endorsement by going on the campaign trail for Obama.

Since then, Ted Kennedy's involvement has been reduced after he was diagnosed last summer with a brain tumour. His niece, meanwhile, deepened her ties to Obama by serving on his vice-presidential search committee.

But the decision to seek Clinton's old Senate seat is an even bigger step.

The New York Times described a painful process for Kennedy, who has managed to preserve her privacy even while playing a role in politics. It said she had "wrestled" with her choice "after a series of deeply personal and political conversations".

Kennedy, who was not quoted in the piece, first approached Paterson two weeks ago to ask about the job. Since then she has been lobbying hard, and has hired a firm of political consultants.

Paterson, under New York law, has the sole authority to name Clinton's successor. Although Clinton has said she will not formally stand down until...#65279; January or February, the governor is expected to make his decision before then.

His choice will serve for two years before facing a special election in 2010.

In theory, Paterson has the power to appoint anyone. In reality, it is difficult to imagine that he will snub the daughter of America's most famous political clan, especially one with a previous claim to the seat. Kennedy's uncle, Robert, was once a Senator from New York.

Kennedy's belated entry to the race has been hard for other New York politicians to absorb. It all but rules out contenders such as the congresswoman Carol Maloney or the New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo. Gary Ackerman, who has represented Queens in the House of Representatives for the last 25 years, told a radio station Kennedy had about as much claim to the seat as Jennifer Lopez. "I don't know what Caroline Kennedy's qualifications are," he said. "Except that she has name recognition - but so does J Lo."

But he was in the minority. Ruth Marcus, in the Washington Post, while admitting she did not like dynastic politics in theory, confessed she found the storybook ending for Kennedy irresistible.

"Caroline has always been part of my consciousness: the lucky little girl with a pony and an impossibly handsome father. What a fitting coda ... to have the little princess grow up to be a senator."