Why Did Caroline Drop Out?

Caroline Kennedy has asked to be no longer considered for appointment to Hillary Clinton's vacant NY Senate seat. But why? The reason she offers -- personal reasons that seem to center on her Uncle Teddy's illness -- doesn't make sense, since nothing new has emerged about the seriousness of his illness since she announced her interest in the seat two months ago.

The most likely reason, of course, is that Gov. Patterson, who makes the appointment, told her she was unlikely to get the seat and gave her the chance to make a face-saving withdrawal. If so, the feeling here is that he's making a mistake. Caroline would have made a terrific senator -- mostly because like her uncles and father, she would have likely assembled the best staff on the Hill and would have been a figure who could generate an enormous amount of attention for liberal causes that no one else can.

The main political fallout from the announcement is that Gov. Patterson has embarrassed the Kennedys (never a good idea), and many other major Democratic politicians in NY, by holding a public search for the new senator over a long two months. He's managed to alienate just about everybody (except whoever gets appointed) -- which is why, the NY governorship now looks like prime takeover  material for the GOP when Patterson is up for election in 2010. More on that in a future Tote Board column.