Caroline Kennedy: "Engaged, savvy operative"

By GottaLaff

Quiet, private, reluctant Caroline Kennedy. As if she wouldn't know her way around this business, right?

A month into the search, as one of two remaining members of the search team, Kennedy is emerging as an active participant, slipping largely unnoticed around Capitol Hill for private meetings and exercising the kind of discretion that made her an appealing choice in the first place. Despite initial skepticism in some quarters that her appointment was window dressing, associates and at least one member of Congress who met with Kennedy describe her as an engaged and savvy operative.

Did they really think that Obama would have it any other way? Or that Caroline would? She wrote a couple of best-selling books with Mr. Laffy's cousin Ellen, and after long convos with Ellen about the process, we could see that Caroline should never be underestimated.

Oh, and when they worked at the Kennedy house, Jackie O served them cookies.

“One of the great assets and gifts that Caroline brings to the process is confidentiality and discretion,” said Paul G. Kirk Jr., board chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and a former Democratic National Committee chairman. “She wouldn’t be sharing what she did with anyone other than her team and her candidate.” [...]

Rep. Joe Baca, a California Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said that when he met with the search team two weeks ago, he found Kennedy doing more of the talking than [Eric Holder, the other half of the search team]. With a soft voice and an unassuming demeanor, Kennedy peppered Baca with questions, asking for opinions on specific candidates and pulling ideas from him about who Obama should choose.

“I felt connected with her,” Baca said. “You felt like you wanted to have a conversation with her.”

I know I sure would. Ellen?