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**indahouweres** · 12-16-2008, 01:09 PM

Key Hillary friends oppose Caroline Kennedy
for N.Y.'s Senate seat

BY KENNETH LOVETT
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF
Sunday, December 14th 2008, 12:15 AM

Arbogast/AP

Caroline Kennedy takes heat
from Clinton pals.

ALBANY - The backlash against Caroline Kennedy replacing Hillary Clinton in the Senate was in full gear this past week, much of it coming from key supporters of Clinton herself.

In recent days, Robert Zimmerman, a Clinton adviser and member of the Democratic National Committee, and Stuart Applebaum, a former Clinton delegate and president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, ripped Kennedy's qualifications.

Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens, Brooklyn) and Gary Ackerman (D-Queens), both of whom are loyal to Clinton, have also harped on Kennedy's lack of political experience. Ackerman compared Kennedy's name recognition with that of Jennifer Lopez, saying popularity doesn't make someone qualified to be a U.S. senator.

Some New York Democrats are still miffed that Kennedy, along with her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy, endorsed and campaigned for Obama over Clinton - who is leaving the Senate to become Obama's secretary of state - during the primaries.

"It's been a little vicious," said longtime Democratic strategist Joseph Mercurio of the backlash. "It's a little over the top."

The criticism followed days of praise of Kennedy - though no official backing - from political powerhouses like President-elect Barack Obama and Mayor Bloomberg as well as members of the Kennedy clan.

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said that out of respect for Gov. Paterson, the outgoing senator will not comment publicly on the process or any particular candidate. "Nor does any third party speak on her behalf," he said.

A number of elected Democrats said the governor would be smart to pick Kennedy.

"How many freshman senators at the bottom of the seniority list can pick up the phone and get the President?" asked one influential Democrat, who asked that his name not be used.

Mercurio, who listed Kennedy and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as two of the most-qualified candidates, said New York has a list of past senators, including Clinton and Kennedy's uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, who had no prior electoral experience. ...

© Copyright 2008 NYDailyNews.com. All rights reserved.

12-16-2008, 01:09 PM	#6
indahouweres Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 448 Senior Member	Key Hillary friends oppose Caroline Kennedy for N.Y.'s Senate seat BY KENNETH LOVETT DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF Sunday, December 14th 2008, 12:15 AM Arbogast/AP Caroline Kennedy takes heat from Clinton pals. ALBANY - The backlash against Caroline Kennedy replacing Hillary Clinton in the Senate was in full gear this past week, much of it coming from key supporters of Clinton herself. In recent days, Robert Zimmerman, a Clinton adviser and member of the Democratic National Committee, and Stuart Applebaum, a former Clinton delegate and president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, ripped Kennedy's qualifications. Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens, Brooklyn) and Gary Ackerman (D-Queens), both of whom are loyal to Clinton, have also harped on Kennedy's lack of political experience. Ackerman compared Kennedy's name recognition with that of Jennifer Lopez, saying popularity doesn't make someone qualified to be a U.S. senator. Some New York Democrats are still miffed that Kennedy, along with her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy, endorsed and campaigned for Obama over Clinton - who is leaving the Senate to become Obama's secretary of state - during the primaries. "It's been a little vicious," said longtime Democratic strategist Joseph Mercurio of the backlash. "It's a little over the top." The criticism followed days of praise of Kennedy - though no official backing - from political powerhouses like President-elect Barack Obama and Mayor Bloomberg as well as members of the Kennedy clan. Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said that out of respect for Gov. Paterson, the outgoing senator will not comment publicly on the process or any particular candidate. "Nor does any third party speak on her behalf," he said. A number of elected Democrats said the governor would be smart to pick Kennedy. "How many freshman senators at the bottom of the seniority list can pick up the phone and get the President?" asked one influential Democrat, who asked that his name not be used. Mercurio, who listed Kennedy and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as two of the most-qualified candidates, said New York has a list of past senators, including Clinton and Kennedy's uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, who had no prior electoral experience. ... © Copyright 2008 NYDailyNews.com. All rights reserved.
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