Dec 31, 2008 3:48 pm US/Pacific
Kennedy's Senate Quest Clears Major Hurdle
Assembly Speaker Silver Changes Changes His Tune, Throws Powerful Support Behind Princess Of Camelot
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg waits for the start of the third presidential debate in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University on Oct. 15, 2008 in Hempstead, N.Y.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Despite her uneven public performance, Caroline Kennedy's U.S. Senate bid is picking up steam, and one of her strongest critics is now tempering his remarks.
Kennedy's picked up support Wednesday from an unlikely source.
"She's obviously very bright. She's been around politics her whole life," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City exclusively on Wednesday.
For weeks Silver has been a persistent critic of Kennedy's campaign to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. He charged that she was too close to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and urged Gov. David Paterson not to pick her. On Wednesday he did an about face. Why?
"I've rethought the fact that the governor makes the selection and in the ultimate determination it is what the governor wants," Silver said.
And in a sign that Kennedy is starting to move to the front of the pack sources close to Gov. Paterson admitted that they had a hand in Silver's change of heart. This as Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, a top Kennedy strategist, continued his push for her candidacy.
"New York needs someone who can work with the new president," Sheekey said. "New York needs someone who supported the new president."
Kennedy has had her embarrassing moments out on the her listening tour, like when she struggled to sound like a U.S. Senator.
"You know, people have started coming up to me and saying, you know, 'Why don't you be a senator? You know, you'd be great,'" she recently said.
Sheekey said he's not worried.
"I think she's done great," he said.
Paterson has said he won't name someone to replace Clinton until she's confirmed as Secretary of State.
There was no word from the Kennedy camp about whether -- or when -- she plans to do more campaigning for the post.
Another proposal being floated by some in Albany is for Gov. Paterson to appoint a "caretaker" to serve until the 2010 elections. Some of the names in the hat -- ex-Gov. Mario Cuomo, former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, and New School president Bob Kerrey -- a former senator from Nebraska.
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