Caroline Kennedy's supporters say she could raise tons of money as a senator, but when it comes to writing checks to New York Democrats, she's been largely AWOL.
This decade, other than a $1,000 donation to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the Camelot heiress has not financially supported any Democrat seeking city or state office in New York, records reveal.
Some say Kennedy, who is worth at least $100 million, missed an opportunity to curry favor among Democratic pols to establish herself as a serious political player as she lobbies Gov. Paterson for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.
She has already been asked to explain a spotty Election Day voting record over the past 20 years.
"Voting is the minimum thing that you can do, and she hasn't done that. The next thing you can do is you could donate money, and she hasn't done that," said Doug Muzzio, professor of public affairs at Baruch College.
"It calls into question her commitment to politics and to government."
I believe this move to get the NY Senate seat is very much a spur-of-the-moment thing with Kennedy. She's 51 years old and hasn't checked the "politics" box on her life resume', and being a good Kennedy, won't be fulfilled in life until she does. And there's no better way to do that than have the governor appoint you to an office that would otherwise require months of campaigning, millions of dollars, and interviews and debates that might show her to be wildly unqualified for the job.
If Paterson appoints her she can check the "politics" box and should she turn out to be a dud, she can simply withdraw from the race in 2010 and she'll be forever known as "Senator Kennedy". Piece of cake.
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