So Patterson is leaning towards Caroline according to report:

New York Gov. David Paterson says the search is ongoing, but two people close to him tell The Associated Press they believe Caroline Kennedy will be appointed to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate....

Meanwhile, Kennedy seems to be taking the governor's remarks to heart.

"Caroline knows that whoever Gov. Paterson selects will have to prove himself or herself to voters all across the state. If Caroline is chosen she is committed to working tirelessly to deliver for all New Yorkers," the Kennedy camp said in a statement.

That's big of her, since last time she was asked about running in 2010 she told NY1 "Well, if he doesn't select me, I would support the person that he does select." So she will only run if she's given the advantage of incumbency, because she's a Kennedy. It just wouldn't be right to accept a level playing field, but, given the advantage of incumbency, she will be more than happy to 'prove herself,' after the fact, to the voters of New York.

It would be an embarrassment for the Democratic party, which suddenly seems to know nothing but since November 4. But for Republicans, the possibility of Franken, Caroline, and Burris all making it into the Senate is like hitting the trifecta -- incompetence, nepotism, and corruption, respectively, will be the buzzwords for our new Democratic Senate.