King girding for battle with Kennedy

Rep. Pete King (R) said Monday that the appointment of
Caroline Kennedy to New York’s open Senate seat would push him further toward a
run for the seat in 2010.

The Republican congressman also took the opportunity to take
the first shots of their potential match-up.

{mosads}King said he was meeting with his campaign team at his home
Monday when he learned that The New York
Times reported Kennedy would pursue the seat, which will be filled by Gov.
David Paterson’s (D) appointment.

“If anything, it makes me more definite that I want to run,”
King said. “I don’t think anyone has any right to a New York Senate seat, or
anyone has any claim on it because of their family name.”

The seat, being vacated by Secretary of State-designate
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D), was once held by Kennedy’s uncle, Robert F.
Kennedy.

King noted that he has never had an antagonistic
relationship with the Kennedy family, and was actually one of the top
congressional allies of former Ireland Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith during
difficult times for her.

“This is not an anti-Caroline Kennedy campaign, but it is
that we in New York need someone who understands the concerns of working
people, and someone who’s got results for New York,” King said. “I have a
proven record, and she doesn’t.”

King added that he will spend the next several weeks
evaluating how much money would be there for a Senate bid. If it is sufficient
to run a “credible race,” he will run, the lawmaker said.