Until last weekend, it seemed clear that Gov. David Paterson had a tough choice in naming a new senator with the likely ascension of Hillary Rodham Clinton to become Barack Obama's new secretary state. Numerous candidates and how they would impact the political dynamic of New York politics were being discussed. Paterson was in an unenviable position, until it was disclosed that Caroline Kennedy was very interested in the post. Her appointment is a no-brainer, and Paterson can stop a great deal of speculation by making it clear that she is his choice.

Kennedy would solve a number of dilemmas as he is being pressured to name someone based on ethnicity, gender and region. Unlike Clinton and also Kennedy's uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, who held the same seat from 1965 to his assassination in 1968, she was born in New York.

What may matter most to Paterson is that Kennedy, who served as co-chair of then-Senator Obama's vice presidential search team, has very strong links to Obama that can only benefit the Empire State. Whoever is appointed will likely be ranked 99th or 100th in seniority, and her appointment, while not moving her up in seniority, clearly increases the chances that her calls will be answered by the new president, who is often compared to her father, John F. Kennedy.

Oddly enough the two people who might like this appointment least are the two current senators. Clinton has always overshadowed Sen. Charles Schumer, and Kennedy's appointment would again focus media attention more on her, than he.

There are clearly some downsides to her appointment. She would go to the Senate without legislative experience, and in the intricate world of Washington that is a problem. She also has not been vetted, at least politically, though one would think that with the spotlight on her since 1961, that if anything was to come out, it would have by now. Finally, and most important to Paterson, she is untested when it comes to running her own campaign. She would be running when Paterson is also up in 2010, and he needs her to be an asset on the campaign trail. Star quality may not be enough.The bottom line is that even with these negatives, Kennedy's appointment nips most of the major criticism that Paterson might have with anyone else, allowing him to keep a woman in the seat, have a direct line to the new president and, for Democrats, he ensures that a Kennedy will be in the Senate, possibly after the departure of Caroline's uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com