ALBANY - State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has expressed reservations about Caroline Kennedy as a U.S. Senate choice, now says he'll support her if Gov. David Paterson picks her for the seat being vacated by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Democrat Silver, the longest-serving and most powerful legislative leader in the state, told the New York Post that he's rethinking his views on Kennedy because he thinks Paterson will soon pick her to replace Clinton, President-elect Barack Obama's choice as secretary of state.

The Post in Thursday's editions quotes Silver as saying he's now more favorably inclined toward Kennedy and that he'll “work strenuously for her election” if she's Paterson's choice.

“I have determined there's a good possibility she will be the appointee of the governor,” Silver told the Post.

Two sources close to Paterson told The Associated Press they believe Kennedy will be Paterson's choice.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren't authorized to speak on the matter.

Kennedy's supporters include New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent who is another important ally for Paterson.

Other hopefuls for the senate seat include half a dozen members of Congress and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, son of the former governor.

Paterson has sole authority to name someone to the senate seat for the next two years. Under state law, there will be an election to fill the last two years of Clinton's term in 2010 and another for a full six-year term in 2012.