Paterson Won’t Pick a Caretaker

New York Gov. David Paterson (D-N.Y.) batted down reports that he’s considering choosing a caretaker to fill the Senate seat that will be vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Party advisers had suggested earlier this week that the governor could pick someone with enough clout to make an impact until 2010, when the seat is up for election. But Paterson said Thursday that picking a caretaker would cause the state to lose seniority in the Senate, according to the Albany Times-Union.

“And in the United States Senate, the most effective senators are the ones who have seniority. So I’m hoping the person I select wins the primary,” Paterson told reporters.

The governor also listed the criteria for his pick.

“First, an ability to help New York state, particularly through this fiscal difficulty,” he said. “Second, ‘who is going to be the best senator five years from now?’ Not necessarily the day they’re appointed. Third, creativity. In other words: ideas that could crystallize into solutions, particularly our economic problems.”

Paterson added that recent interviews of Caroline Kennedy haven’t affected her candidacy. Kennedy received criticism from New York pundits for her use of “you know” and “umm” in her interview responses.