The clash of the Kennedys plays on in the Clinton-Obama race
Perhaps it was a coincidence. Or perhaps Barack Obama's campaign wanted to provide a quick reminder that they've got Kennedys too.
Two emails relating to the Democratic dynasty landed in reporter in-boxes Saturday afternoon. First came news from the Clinton campaign that Maryland's Democratic Central Committee had elected former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and a Hillary Clinton 
supporter, as an automatic delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Just 96 minutes later, another Kennedy was heard from: Townsend's cousin Caroline, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, writing on behalf of Obama.
Now it's not exactly news that she's an Obama backer; she announced that to the world, via a New York Times column, back in late January. The excuse for her new email was the Obama Organizing Fellowship, for which the campaign is seeking students and recent graduates who "will be trained on the basics of organizing and campaign fundamentals and then placed in a community to carry out grassroots activities."
She also was busy on another front Saturday -- attending the Kentucky Derby to help carry Obama's banner. (The state's primary is May 20.)
In Democratic circles, Caroline Kennedy, the sole surviving heir to Camelot, might be the more influential of the two cousins. Kennedy Townsend, however, is the one who gets to vote at the convention.
-- Matthew Hay Brown and Don Frederick
Matthew Hay Brown, of the Baltimore Sun, writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau.
Don Frederick has served as an editor helping guide coverage of every presidential election since 1984. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, so watching the political world comes naturally to him.
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.
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I would much rather have Caroline Kennedy on my side than Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. She ran a terrible campaign for Governor of Maryland, a race she should have won easily. Hillary can't run a campaign either. "You're either with us or against us". Sounds like George Bush.
Posted by: Carolyn Grace | May 04, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Hillary Clinton is not electable.
SNIPER FIRE!
Posted by: CC | May 04, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Can you see Robert Kennedy Jr.?
I really like to see him rather than Caroline.
67 white lies from OBAMA; all factural, you can be the judge.
http://savagepolitic.com/?page_id=326
Posted by: John_Lai | May 04, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Barack obama is not electable
Bombastic Rev. wright!
Posted by: Hillary for president | May 04, 2008 at 10:29 PM
The way the MSM reports you would never know some Kennedy's support Clinton.
Posted by: Tina | May 05, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Hillary Clinton is not electable.
SNIPER FIRE!
Posted by: CC | May 04, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Barack obama is not electable
Bombastic Rev. wright!
Posted by: Hillary for president | May 04, 2008 at 10:29 PM
The difference between the two posts above is that Hillary lied 3 times about sniper fire and her importance in White House since she did not answer any 3 am phone calls.
And The post about what a wayward preacher said but condemed by Obama but not what Obama said.
Who is more electable? A Senator who lies to get elected or a Senator who is blamed for comments he did not make.
Posted by: Voter | May 06, 2008 at 09:55 AM