Bill Clinton touted as a possible N.Y. Senate 'caretaker'

New York, Jan.2 (ANI): Former US President Bill Clinton is among several names being touted as possible "caretakers" for New York's Senate seat that is to be vacated by his wife Hillary Clinton when she takes over as the next US Secretary of State.

As the process of picking Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's replacement gets messier, a CBS report says that the option of naming Bill Clinton may become increasingly attractive to State Governor David Paterson, who has the sole authority to name Hillary's successor.

A big name like Bill Clinton or Democratic former Governor Mario Cuomo could have an immediate impact for New York in the Senate while letting the large field of hopefuls duke it out in 2010, according to three Democratic Party advisers in New York and Washington who are close to the discussion with Paterson's inner circle on this issue.

Two others in the party confirmed that Paterson is still considering the caretaker option. The advisers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to comment.

Paterson has made it clear in recent days that he's getting annoyed by the constant jockeying by supporters of high-powered hopefuls, including Caroline Kennedy, half a dozen members of Congress and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, son of the former governor.

The candidates -- especially Kennedy -- have made daily headlines as Paterson tries to focus on a fiscal crisis of historic proportions, his first budget proposal and preparations for his first full legislative session as governor. He took office last spring after disgraced Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned.

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who picked a former aide to Vice President-elect Joe Biden to succeed him in the Senate until a new senator is elected in 2010, exercised the caretaker option last month.

By then, Biden's son, state Attorney General Beau Biden, will have returned from a tour in Iraq with the National Guard -- just in time to run for his father's seat.

A week ago, Paterson said he favored appointing a senator soon after Clinton is confirmed to start building seniority, and he ruled out an interim placeholder. Under state law, there will be an election to fill the last two years of Hillary Clinton's term in 2010 and another for a full six-year term in 2012. (ANI)