ALBANY, N.Y. — Caroline Kennedy’s mysteriously abrupt decision to abandon her Senate bid gave rise to a swirl of accusations Thursday and feverish speculation over whether she jumped or was pushed.
The 51-year-old daughter of President John F. Kennedy was widely considered a front-runner for the Senate seat until she sent a midnight e-mail to reporters and Gov. David Paterson saying she was withdrawing for what she described only as personal reasons.
Even though many Democrats had thought Paterson was going to appoint Kennedy, a person close to the governor said Thursday that Paterson had no intention of picking her because he believed she handled herself poorly in introducing herself as a candidate. The person also said there were concerns about possible tax problems, a potential “nanny problem,” and rumors her marriage was on the rocks.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak for the governor.
Kennedy spokesman Stefan Friedman would not detail her reasons for withdrawing, but complained: “This kind of mudslinging demeans that process and all those involved.”
The state tax department said it could not find any problems with Kennedy’s tax records. In a December interview, Kennedy denied she had any “nanny gate” problem and said that her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, was very supportive and that they lived together with their children.
Thursday, Paterson issued a statement in which he said Kennedy’s decision “was hers alone” and that he hadn’t ruled out any candidate before she withdrew.
Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand emerged as a leading contender Thursday night. Gillibrand, 42, is a second-term lawmaker from upstate New York.
Several officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Paterson had summoned fellow Democrats to Albany for a meeting today. The officials stressed that the appointment still could go elsewhere, including to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
