A question about Senator Clinton (D-NY)

Can anyone help me out here? All DU political junkies and/or keen observers of the New York political scene...

I'm guessing Senator Clinton runs for and wins re-election to the U.S. Senate in November, simultaneous to a win in the gubernatorial race by Eliot Spitzer (D).

Like Bob Dole in 1996, if Senator Clinton resigns to seek the presidency in 2008, will a special election be called to fill that seat, or under NY law does then-Governor Spitzer appoint her successor?

And in either of those instances, who are the possible candidates to replace Sen. Clinton? Liz Holtzman? Charlie Rangel? Andrew Cuomo? Others?

Wouldn't that rock! He's a NY resident now!

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/936290

:shrug:

senate seats. Bob Dole did it in 96. Sen. Bentsen didn't have to in 88 because Texas law allows him to remain a senator unless he had been elected VP with Dukakis, then he would have to resign.

Senator Clinton would not likely attempt to run for president (assuming she got the nomination) without resigning her senate seat, I don't believe. It would simply be way too much to handle at once for anybody.

She would not resign and she should not resign...

Kerry in Mass. and Bentsen in Texas over the years are permitted to keep their seats unless they win the national election.

Same for Lieberman in Connecticut when he did not compete in Iowa and was crushed in New Hampshire.

I would say that a national campaign by Senator Clinton would require that she step down. Many party operatives in NY and nationally would feel that she is either a U.S. Senator from 1 of the 50 states, or a national candidate for higher office. Trying to do both can be problematic. Not impossible, but problematic. It gives the GOP an immediate, easy campaign issue: "She doesn't show up for votes in th Senate because she's fundraising in L.A."

and I talk to a lot of Democrats, so I wouldn't worry about this.

demands of elected senators.

Spitzer is likely NY's next governor. Sen. Clinton is a likely presidential candidate. I was asking what possible circumstances might emerge.

Or the nomination. So the point is moot.

But hypothetically, if she wins the nomination and gives up her Senate seat, then her political career will be over in 2008. Because there is no way she will ever win the Presidency.

Wesley Clark for instance, there are certainly others. I like Hillary, but we cannot afford another loser. If she wins the nomination , I will of course support her. We need someone who can win that one third of the American voters who do not have a strong party allegiance. At this time I do not believe it is her. ...Oscar

Just like if a Republican were to win.
Let's think positive. No Hillary, anti-war dem instead.

I have yet to see one piece of evidence that Hillary intends to run, let alone that this elaborate anti-Hillary conspiracy theory pushed by the ultraleft is more than simple paranoia and sour grapes.

Maybe she will pleasantly surprise us and change her ways, and start opposing war.

Or resign and sell shoes or something.

She's traveling all over the country building up a multi-million dollar war chest for a senate race that isn't even competitive. All the problems getting a concensus on Iraq and national security, Hillary Clinton because she has to be seen as tough to run for President and needs for the Party to look the same way. She's running. She's not going to win, but she's running.

a run for the White House.

from Hillary Clinton, 2 YEARS before the presidential primary, I'm pretty confident she's running. Oh yeah, and did I mention I'm in CA?

Senator Clinton is not my first choice for the nomination at all, but she is the frontrunner by many accounts at the moment.

If you follow NY politics, tell me if a special election is called or if the governor appoints successors.

Other than your well-known distaste for this Democratic Senator?

In the short run, Spitzer would get to appoint the office-holder, but my guess is that it depends on the specific state law and the date when Clinton resigned as to whether or not the special election would be in 2008 or in 2010.

Clinton should resign the seat if she wins the nomination and Spitzer can appoint the successor. If we assume Republicans will control the senate in 2008, then they can blast Hillary during the campaign for missing votes, or they can set a bunch of legislative traps for her to distract her on the campaign trial, possibly forcing her to come back to Washington to cast a politically difficult vote.

Oh, and Andrew Cuomo would be a horrible choice. He is not popular at all in New York and he is a terrible campaigner.

Yes -- I expect the GOP will be laying land mines for Senator Clinton early and often in the run-up to 2008. I hear you loud and clear on that.

And I mention Andrew Cuomo only because he would be one name bandied about. I agree with you that he is not a very good campaigner. His father has fire, though -- I really loved listening to Mario Cuomo as a spokesman for the party.

There would not be a special election, as there is for the House of Representatives. The Governor would appoint someone to fill the term, sometimes, the Governor will appoint himself, resigning the Governorship and allowing the Lt. Governor to move up. Ofttimes, it changes the face of the Senate, for example when the Repugnik Senator from Georgia died, the Governor, a Democrat (sort of) appointed a Democrat (DINO) to fill out the remaining term. Of course, that was Zell Miller, a Repugnik if there ever was one within our ranks.

While Zell was useless as a Democrat, it was a seat we had, which helped us gain the majority briefly before we were nuked by the Rove machine in 2002, and lost seats again.

And subsequently served out what would have been Senator Coverdell's full term

Who then serves until next scheduled election. No idea who would be appointed.

I was aiming for this info. Many thanks.

It might be someone like Nita Lowey, who represents a Westchester district in the House. In 2000, she was preparing a run for the Senate, but stepped aside when Clinton announced. There's a good chance that, in your scenario, all the other statewide elected officials would be men from New York City. If so, a non-NYC pick would be almost imperative, and a woman would be a plus.

good choice (if my scenario ever played out).

Appreciate your insight on the Westchester female v. NYC males idea.

Much appreciated -- thank you.

Would it be legal for him to be a vice president?:think:

disqualified from being a VP candidate, as it is a succession post to the presidency, which he's already held for two maximum terms.

Does anyone know for sure what the deal is?

Anyway, a more frightening scenario to me at least would be if Dick Cheney stepped down and Dubya appointed his brother Jeb to the vice presidency. It would set up 4 to 8 more years of a Bush in the West Wing, and there might not be time to wave you a fond farewell as I high-tail it to Canada.

amendments.

Wow. I had no idea. "Being elected to" and "legally qualified for" would set off a hot debate in both chambers, but it would be fun to watch.

What a hoot it would be. Many thanks for the extra steps here.