Kennedy withdraws senate bid over ‘personal matter’

CAROLINE KENNEDY withdrew her senate bid because of a personal matter unrelated to her ill uncle, rejecting the governor’s attempt to get her to reconsider, a person who worked closely with her said yesterday.

Kennedy discussed withdrawing from the race with governor David Paterson on Wednesday, and Paterson asked her to reconsider for 24 hours, the person said. But by 11pm on Wednesday, the associate said, Kennedy decided she couldn’t take the job if appointed and she issued a statement shortly after midnight saying she was withdrawing.

Kennedy did not decide to bow out because her uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, suffered a seizure during an inaugural luncheon on Tuesday, the person said. The 76-year-old Massachusetts senator was diagnosed in May with an aggressive type of brain tumour. The person wasn’t authorised to disclose the conversation between Kennedy and the governor, and spoke on condition of anonymity. The person would give no other details about the personal matter.

Kennedy’s one-sentence statement ended hours of uncertainty as she appeared to waver.

“I informed governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate.”

There was no comment from Paterson.

Kennedy, the 51-year-old daughter of president John Kennedy, emerged as a front-runner to replace Clinton. But there were questions about her experience and her reluctance to answer questions about her finances.

The seat was once held by Caroline Kennedy’s slain uncle, Bobby Kennedy, and her initial announcement that she wanted to be considered was met with both excitement from supporters and scepticism from those who maintained she was simply trading on her famous name to get into public office.

With no official explanations from the governor or from Kennedy, political observers were still wondering whether she bowed out on her own, or whether the governor had decided to pick someone else. Doug Muzzio, a political science professor at Baruch College, called Kennedy’s withdrawal “bizarre and ultimately embarrassing” to her and Paterson. State senator Malcolm Smith, the Democratic majority leader in Albany, said Paterson told him he still plans to announce a Senate appointment by tomorrow.

Kennedy’s decision boosted the chances of several other candidates, including attorney general Andrew Cuomo, who surpassed Kennedy in statewide polls last week.

Paterson has said Cuomo had outstanding credentials for the job. Cuomo was the housing secretary under former president Bill Clinton.

Cuomo was elected attorney general in 2006 and has since led national reforms in the student loan industry and had a role in reining in corporate spending on Wall Street.