Caroline Kennedy abandons US Senate bid

The daughter of assassinated president John Kennedy confirmed today she has abandoned her bid for New York’s Senate seat.

After a night of turmoil and uncertainty over her intentions she announced: “For personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate.”

Earlier her aides had denied news reports that she had dropped her application.

The hours of mixed signals were the latest twist in the Kennedy effort, which began with popular support that withered after she drew criticism in a brief upstate tour and early press interviews.

Reports changed through the night as people close to Ms Kennedy either denied or softened their comments before she ended the uncertainty by issuing her statement.

The decision came after her uncle, veteran Senator Ted Kennedy, with whom she is said to be close, suffered a seizure during Barack Obama’s inaugural lunch on Tuesday.

The 76-year-old senator from Massachusetts, who is fighting brain cancer, was released from the hospital a day later.

Ms Kennedy, is an author, lawyer and fundraiser for New York City schools. She has long guarded her privacy, and the questionnaires were expected to include some closely guarded Kennedy financial data.

Ms Kennedy jumped to the top of state-wide polls in early December, but her public support waned following the tour and a few press interviews. She was criticised as reluctant to answer questions, and her knowledge of New York and its issues were suspect. She was also mocked nationwide for her frequent use of “you know” and “um” in interviews and was branded a lacklustre campaigner.

Several other candidates for the seat made vacant by Hillary Clinton’s appointment as Secretary of State are under consideration, including Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who surpassed Kennedy in polls last week.