Downballot: Paterson on Caroline

MINNESOTA: "Senate Democratic leaders won't shut the door on the possibility of seating Democrat Al Franken before the state of Minnesota issues a certificate declaring a winner in the race," writes CQ. "Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday appeared to back away somewhat from his declaration earlier in the week that Franken's term ‘must begin and will begin soon,’ saying that Democrats would ‘be very patient’ with the legal challenge that Republican Norm Coleman is mounting in the Minnesota courts." http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003005339 NEW YORK: The longer Gov. David Paterson goes without appointing Caroline Kennedy, the less likely she's the pick, right? Paterson’s public utterance yesterday that her legislative inexperience is an issue can't be a good sign.  The New York Times hints that it's possible Andrew Cuomo did NOT send in the paperwork Paterson has asked of all potential Senate candidates. "The governor stressed in interviews on Thursday that ... (link)