Slaughter Backs Kennedy, Likes Her Stature

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) said that Caroline Kennedy would be a good senator because of her national stature.

Slaughter, who has backed Kennedy for Senate, said on MSNBC Tuesday that she thought Kennedy, a New York City resident, could provide the some of the benefits that outgoing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) provides.

“I think that we need somebody of national stature to replace Hillary Clinton,” Slaughter said.

Slaughter, whose district includes Rochester, a city in western New York, said that Kennedy would also be a strong servant to areas of the state outside of Gotham, just as Clinton has been.

“We have serious and compelling problems here in upstate New York, particularly in western New York,” Slaughter said. “And I talked to her about that for a little bit and pledged that I would be more than happy to talk to her about our border problems, the — our farmers and the things that are plaguing us up here, and an economy we have to rebuild.”

Clinton is leaving the Senate to become secretary of State. New York Gov. David Paterson (D) will appoint her replacement.
Slaughter dismissed the remarks that Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) in which he likened Kennedy to