Dec 18, 2008 9:52 am US/Eastern
Kennedy Takes A Beating From Upstate Media
Reporters Jump All Over Mostly Silent Princess Of Camelot; Mayor Of Syracuse Doesn't Offer Endorsement
Who Should Get Senate Gig? Siena Poll: Cuomo 26, Kennedy 23
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Caroline Kennedy and President-elect Barack Obama (file)
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Caroline Kennedy took a page from Hillary Clinton's playbook and began an upstate listening tour On Wednesday.
The road trip included stops in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo to help convince Gov. David Paterson and voters she's the one to replace Clinton in the U.S. Senate.
But it was a tough crowd.
The black SUV pulled up to Syracuse city hall Wednesday morning. It was stop one on Kennedy's upstate tour.
SEE ALSO: Caroline, Al Sharpton Have Harlem Lunch Date
But after meeting with Mayor Matt Driscoll, she ran into a buzz saw -- angry reporters who wanted her to do more talking and less listening.
"But you've never held public office so what experience [do you have]?" one reporter asked.
Actually, she did speak briefly in Syracuse.
"I wanted to come upstate and meet with Mayor Driscoll and others to tell them about my experience and also learn more about how Washington can help these communities," Kennedy said.
Her quick remarks fell flat. Reporters seemed to feel brushed off and they pursued her out.
"You're not going to answer questions at all?" one asked.
"Where you headed next?" another demanded.
To the car.
Afterward, CBS 2 HD spoke with Mayor Driscoll by phone. He said that although Kennedy was gracious, he wasn't willing to back her candidacy … right now.
"I think it's premature for me to say that," Driscoll said. "I think there's a lot of great candidates out there.
"But at the end of the day I think it's important to have someone who represents you, knows New York State and really has an intimate knowledge of the state and upstate."
Stop two was in Rochester.
Clearly someone must have told her after she left Syracuse that it probably wasn't a good idea to dis reporters completely. In Rochester she opened up a whole lot more.
"What makes you think you can represent upstate?" she was asked.
"Well as I, first of all this was a great visit and I've already learned a lot and I want to come back," Kennedy said.
The question came again: What have you learned?
"It's a process so I just hope everybody understands this is not a campaign, but I have lived a life committed to public service, wrote a book on the constitution, the importance of independent participation, raised my family committed to education in New York City," Kennedy said.
A new poll by the Siena Research Institute shows New Yorkers divided about who Gov. Paterson should pick: 26 percent say it should be Andrew Cuomo, while 23 percent say it should be Kennedy.
Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch told CBS 2 HD he was won over after she called him and asked to talk about the office.
"When you look at her, and you know what the Kennedy's are capable of and you know the family she comes from … think of the DNA," Koch said.
Right now, Kennedy only has to convince one man, the governor, to appoint her. She doesn't have to face voters until November 2010.
Meanwhile, Kennedy will probalby have an easier time winning the nomination now that Clinton has ordered her supporters to stop attacking her.
MORE:
Caroline, Rev. Al Meet For Lunch At Harlem Landmark
Talk Back: Is Caroline Kennedy Ready?
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