Caroline Kennedy Out … Enter Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand as Gov Paterson’s Pick to Fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat

It seemed that Caroline Kennedy was the odds on favorite to fill the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Then suddenly Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name as speculation arose. The New York Post is reporting that according to a source close to Governor Paterson, Caroline Kennedy never had a shot due to issue over taxes, her nanny and possibly her marriage. We knew something was not right with Caroline’s abrupt withdrawal announcement.

In the end it turns out that Caroline was “not ready for Prime Time.” As Hot Air stated, they counted at least 7 trail theories floated as the reason for why she quit. So much for Camelot III, over before it ever began.

Kennedy was “mired in some potentially embarrassing personal issues,” the source said, citing tax liabilities and worker compensation liabilities connected to the employment of a nanny.

The source also said the state of her marriage may have presented a problem as well.

“She has a tax problem that came up in the vetting and a potential nanny issue,” the source said. “And reporters are starting to look at her marriage more closely,” the source continued, refusing to provide any specifics.

Ted Kennedy’s Circle Upset by Caroline’s Awkward Exit

With Caroline Kennedy’s departure from consideration, it appears that New York Governor David A. Paterson is ready to make his pick. It is being reported by WPIX that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand will be Paterson’s choice to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Personally, I would have thought Paterson would have gone with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Although there is pressure to fill Clinton’s seat with another woman. The Gillibrand choice is already causing the LEFT to go nuts as Kirsten Gillibrand is a supporter of the NRA, heaven forbid.

One of the contenders, long-term Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney canceled a scheduled appearance on “PIX News Closeup” Friday because of a “conflict,” which she did not disclose. She too will be in Albany. According to the sources, Gillibrand, now in her second congressional term, is favored by Secretary of State Clinton herself. Paterson has been under pressure to select a woman.
 
With most Democratic leaders in Albany coming from the New York City area, one source said this would be an important move for the Governor to have a Senator from upstate. Sources say Gillibrand, a blue-dog Democrat and a good fundraiser,  would be an asset to Paterson in any bid for election in 2010.

UPDATE I: DAVE PATERSON PICKS GILLIBRAND AS LIBERAL DEMS GO INTO HYSTERIA

It’s official, Kirsten Gillibrand is the new junior Senator from New York.

A note to the LEFT, every one who runs or gets picked for a position in the Democratic party does not have to be a bed-wetting liberal. I thought your party was supposed to be one big tent, not a monolith of moonbats. News Busters asks whether the MS will label incoming NY Senator as ‘Maverick Democrat?’

The big question now is if Gillibrand will be “educated” by Senate Democrats to change her views to become more liberal or will she continue to irk them by being a maverick? According to NewsDay, Gillibrand didn’t “moderate” her views after she won her Congressional seat.

The surprising – and, for many Democrats shocking – decision to pick the conservative Gillibrand, 42, from Hudson in Columbia County, was disclosed by the governor in calls to party officials and some members of the state’s congressional delegation, many of whom said they were unhappy with the selection, sources said.

UPDATE II: GOV SAYS CAROLINE KENNEDY TURNED ‘NASTY’

Gov. Paterson rapped Caroline Kennedy at a private event the night before he tapped Kirsten Gillibrand for the Senate, telling guests Kennedy had been “nasty” to him and shown “disrespect” with how she bowed out, attendees told The Post.