Jan 14, 2009 6:33 am US/Eastern
Paterson On Clock For Clinton's Replacement
N.Y. Governor Wants Secrecy In Senate Selection Process
Sources: Kennedy Hopes To Bring Obama In To Campaign
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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New York Gov. David Paterson has numerous qualified candidates to choose from to replace Hillary Clinton, but he is keeping his selection process quiet. (File)
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Now that Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearings are underway, the clock is officially ticking for Gov. David Paterson to pick her successor.
There's been much speculation as to who the governor will pick, but he says he wants secrecy in his process.
And secrecy he's getting. Even Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a front-runner in the search, wouldn't bite. Just read this exchange he had with CBS 2 HD:
CBS 2 HD: "Andrew, have you filled out the questionnaire that everyone has been asked to fill out?"
Cuomo: "The governor has a process that he's following and I think it's up to the governor to discuss his process and who's in and who's out and I leave that all to the governor."
CBS 2 HD: "But you're not going to tell us whether you filled out the questionnaire?"
Cuomo: "It's about the governor's process and about what the governor's process is."
CBS 2 HD: "And what do you want?"
Cuomo: "I'm not going to comment on the governor's process."
Caroline Kennedy met with Paterson over the weekend, and like Cuomo, she's been close-mouthed. But sources tell CBS 2 HD an apparent plus for Kennedy is she hopes to bring President-elect Barack Obama to New York to campaign for her and the entire Democratic ticket.
However, a spokesman for Kennedy told CBS 2 HD that no promises have been made.
"This is an inappropriate and misleading rumor about conversations that have neither taken place nor been contemplated," Kennedy spokesman Stefan Friedman said.
Kennedy aside, not every Senate contender has taken the vow of silence.
"I filled out the form, 28 pages. He now knows more about me than I knew about myself, before vetting myself and doing all the research," Rep. Steve Israel (D-Long Island) said on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer show on Tuesday morning.
In published reports Tuesday, Paterson said Kennedy impressed him during her Senate interview, but he's not ready to declare a front runner yet.
"How would it help the state to have a designee when the Senator of the state is still serving?" Paterson said on Monday.
Still, good government groups say the secrecy cheats voters.
"Because he is himself making the decision he should be more open about the process by which he's going to make this decision," said Dick Dadey of the Citizen's Union.
"The public certainly has the right to know why the governor makes the choice that he makes, but the public doesn't necessarily have the right to know all of the answers to all of the detailed questions on those questionnaires," said Prof. David Birdsell of Baruch College.
In another development, Republicans in Albany want the Clinton seat filled in a special election.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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