
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/17/art.kennedy.gi.jpg caption="New Yorkers are roughly divided on who they want to be their next senator."](CNN) - A new poll out Wednesday suggests there is no clear favorite among New Yorkers on who they think should replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate - and despite the buzz over Caroline Kennedy, the soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat is not necessarily hers for the taking.
According to a new survey from Siena College, 26 percent of New York voters and 30 percent of New York Democrats favor another potential pick with a famous last name - current New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo, the son of former governor Mario Cuomo.
Some 23 percent of New York voters - and 28 percent of Democrats - want Kennedy to get the post. Nearly one in five preferred one of the othe Democrats often mentioned for the post, and another one in five had no preference for their next U.S. Senator.
The top two potential choices also have nearly identical favorability ratings - 58-21 percent for Kennedy and 59-24 percent for Cuomo.
"Both Kennedy and Cuomo have high name recognition among New Yorkers, and Cuomo has run for - and won - statewide office, which may help him marginally," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Since the poll was done before Kennedy's officially announced her interest in the Senate seat, it's possible her support today is a little higher than it was before her announcement. But ultimately, the choice will be made by the Governor, not the voters of New York."
But while New Yorkers may be roughly divided on who they think should be named to the post, 31 percent believe Gov. David Paterson will ultimately pick Kennedy compared to the 16 percent who say Cuomo will get it.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/17/art.brownback.gi.jpg caption="Brownback will not run for re-election."] WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Sam Brownback will announce Thursday he is retiring from the Senate when his term ends in 2010, allowing the Kansas Republican to explore a run for governor.
He will be the second GOP senator this year to publicly state he is leaving at the close of the 111th Congress.
Brownback, who unsuccessfully sought the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, will not reveal his future political plans during the three news conferences planned for Thursday in Kansas. But a source close to Brownback said he will file gubernatorial paperwork in January.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/17/art.mn1217.cnn.jpg caption="The Minnesota recount continues today."]ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - Their self-imposed deadline was this Friday. But the panel weighing disputed ballots in the year's lone unresolved Senate race now faces an end date as uncertain as that vote's outcome.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and the four other members of the state's canvassing board resumed their deliberation over challenged ballots Wednesday morning, as the race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken remains too close to call.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/17/art.blago.cnn.jpg caption="Blagojevich said he wants to tell his side of the story."] CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that he "can't wait to begin to tell his side of the story."
In the week since Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges, there have been repeated calls for his resignation.
Although Blagojevich, 52, has not commented publicly on the charges, his lawyer Ed Genson said the governor had done nothing wrong and does not intend to step down.
"I can't wait to begin to tell my side of the story and to address you guys and most importantly the people of Illinois. That's who I'm dying to talk to," Blagojevich told reporters gathered outside his home.
"There's a time and place for everything. That day will soon be here, and you might know more about that today, maybe no later than tomorrow."
Asked what it is he wants to say, Blagojevich told the reporters to "hang loose."
Members of an Illinois House of Representatives panel met Tuesday to determine whether there is a basis to impeach Blagojevich.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://money.cnn.com/2000/05/29/investing/q_madoff/headshot.gif caption="Madoff was a major campaign donor."](CNN) - Alleged Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff has been a major political donor, directing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic lawmakers over the past two decades.
Since 1991, Madoff and other individuals connected with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities made campaign contributions totaling $372,100, with about 89 percent of those funds directed to Democrats, according to OpenSecrets.org, the Web site of the Center for Responsive Politics. The majority of the senators and representatives who benefited from these donations were New York-area legislators.
In 2008, Madoff contributed $50,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, pushing his total donations to the group since 1992 over the six-figure mark.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/17/art.time.cnn.jpg caption="Time's person of the year is Barack Obama."]In one of the craziest elections in American history, he overcame a lack of experience, a funny name, two candidates who are political institutions and the racial divide to become the 44th president of the United States.
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