If Not Caroline, Then Who?

After months of speculation, it turns out New York's next senator will not be Caroline Kennedy. She withdrew her name from consideration last night, citing "personal reasons," although the New York Post is reporting that Governor David Paterson told Kennedy on Tuesday night that she was unlikely to be picked. So who can we expect to be New York's next senator? Andrew Cuomo, the state attorney general, is the odds-on favorite right now. In prior weeks, he led Kennedy in several polls. Also, according to the Post's sources, Paterson recently requested information on three possible candidates: upstate Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Manhattan Rep. Carolyn Maloney, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.