"Political Musical Chairs"

By Jill Wagner

An official announcement isn't expected until after Thanksgiving, but it's looking like Senator Hillary Clinton is a shoe in for Secretary of State. And just when it seems like all the speculation is behind us --- (Will Bill Clinton disclose all of his financial records?  Does Hillary Clinton even want the job?) --- the next guessing game is here!

Who will fill the Junior Senator's seat?  

Governor Paterson is tasked with picking a replacement for Clinton in the U.S. Senate. Technically he could appoint himself, but earlier this week Paterson ruled that out, saying he wants to keep his job as Governor, especially with the economic crisis facing the state.

So I sat down with News 12 Political Analyst Jerry Kremer and picked his brain about just who Paterson could choose. He says the Governor will make a decision based on who could help him win the Gubernatorial race in 2010. And that means he'll choose either a suburban legislator, an Hispanic official, or someone from upstate.

Here on Long Island, there are two people on the short list----Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Congressman Steve Israel. Kremer says both could help him raise money and secure votes with suburban voters (Suozzi's picture is below left, from Nassau County's website, and Steve Israel is below right, from his Congressional website).

In terms of Hispanic choices, Kremer says Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion is the front runner. There's also speculation about Brooklyn Congressman Nydia Velazquez, but Kremer says she's not interested in the position.

There are plenty of other names floating around to fill the seat: Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, New York City Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, even Caroline Kennedy.

But Kremer says Cuomo seems to be enjoying the Attorney General job, and could be interested in running for Governor down the line. And Obama might offer Caroline Kennedy another type of position, perhaps something involving the United Nations.

Whatever happens, for anyone interested in politics, it should be fun to watch!

As Kremer told me, "This is called political musical chairs and we love it."

Comments

[John]

Clinton might not be the lock everybody thinks. The Constitution says that Legislators can't take posts if that post got a raise in the past year (Article One, Section Six). Since the Cabinet did get raises, hers would be an unconstitutional nomination. Though you never know with our Congress, which passed an economic bill (the Bailout) that actually originated in the Senate (a huge Constitutional no-no), she might still be a hard sell on those grounds.