Two new polls out Tuesday show New York Democrats prefer Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Clinton. Then again it's not their decision.
A new Marist Poll shows Dems preferring Kennedy to Cuomo 31 percent to 21 percent while a new survey from Public Polling Policy gives Kennedy a big lead over Attorney General Andrew Cuomo 44% - 23% with a bunch of other wannabes in the low single digits.
What these polls prove more than anything else is that New York Democrats recognize the Kennedy and Cuomo names far more than the others (Gillibrand, Suozzi, Maloney, Higgins, Brown, Velsaquez, Israel, Carrion and our favorite, "Somebody Else"). In fact, 25 percent of the Democrats in the Marist Poll chose "Unsure."
The Marist Poll also asked the question of Republicans and Independents and found Kennedy and Cuomo tied at 25 percent largely as a result of Republicans choosing a Cuomo as the lesser evil between two liberal icons that have long ago became the punchlines for GOP jokes.
Clinton has said she will not resign unless and until she is confirmed as Barack Obama's Secretary of State sometime in later January.
In the meantime the speculation game is at full fever pitch with teachers union president Randi Weingarten now tossing her name in the ring.
Of course the choice is not up to voters (not until 2010 and again in 2012 but that's another story…) but rather Gov. David Paterson.
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He has the sole authority to replace Clinton and he will undoubtedly make his pick based, at least in part, on who will best help him win his own election in 2010.
So if voters like Kennedy, does that mean they will reward Paterson for choosing her?
Several smart political analysts say that's unlikely but do note that having a ballot in 2010 with Kennedy, Paterson, and Schumer (all will be up for election) probably helps all three of them.
