Jeez, here they go again. Karen Tumulty's tick-tock really captures the madness of Caroline Kennedy's decision to take herself out of contention for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat:
7 p.m. or thereabouts: The New York Post reports she has told Governor David Paterson that she is withdrawing her name from consideration for the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton. It says she is citing "personal reasons."
...
8:40 p.m.: We hear that Kennedy's advisers have just finished a very chaotic conference call. One source says even Josh Isay, her top strategist (at this point, obviously, we are using that word very loosely), is claiming not to know anything about any decision of hers to drop out.
8:59 p.m.: Swampland commenter rmrd tells us: Olbermann just said Kennedy did not bow out
...
2:07 a.m.: This statement by Caroline Kennedy arrives by email:
"I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am
withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate."
At first, it seemed that the decision to pull out was simply a way for her to avoid the embarassment of not getting picked for the seat. But if that had been the strategy, wouldn't her camp have stuck with it, instead of spiraling out of control? The other option suggestsed -- that Paterson leaked Kennedy's demural without her knowledge to force her out -- is a crazy bit of political jujitsu that certainly appears to be effective. On the other hand, though the Plank is taking credit, the real reason might be that Kennedy is a regular TAPPED reader. David Paterson, if you, too, are a regular TAPPED reader, heed the call of democracy and appoint a caretaker senator prior to a special election.
-- Tim Fernholz
