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Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration to occupy the US Senate seat vacated by newly sworn-in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
A person close to the decision indicated that Kennedy, the daughter of assassinated president John F. Kennedy, called New York Governor David Paterson Wednesday, according to the newspaper.
The source said Kennedy was withdrawing from consideration over concerns about the health of her uncle, US Senator Edward Kennedy, who collapsed Tuesday during an inauguration luncheon for President Barack Obama. He has been suffering from brain cancer.
Caroline Kennedy was planning to issue a statement later Wednesday, the Times reported.
Kennedy had highlighted her record of charitable work, service on cultural boards and efforts to reform New York's education system as proof of a commitment to public service.
But she had been embarrassed by a report that she had not always voted in key elections and she got off to a rocky start with local media on a trip beyond the safety of liberal Manhattan.
Rivals for the seat include worthy but little-known lawmakers and Andrew Cuomo, himself political royalty as the son of a popular state governor.
Whoever is selected by Paterson must run for the two years left in Clinton's term in 2010 before pursuing their own six-year tenure in 201
