Now that Hillary Clinton is leaving the Senate for the State Department, there is a long line of anxious volunteers to replace the Freshman Senator from New York.

Caroline Kennedy is reportedly interested in entering the family business and taking over Hillary's Senate seat, the seat once held by her uncle and cousin, when the new session of Congress begins. Caroline endorsed President-Elect Barack Obama early in the primary season alongside her Uncle Ted Kennedy and made numerous campaign appearances on his behalf.

Kennedy is fiercely protective of her privacy, but Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said she is interested in the position, "now [that] her children are grown...she is ready to move onto a bigger stage."

New York Governor David Paterson confirmed he spoke with the former first daughter this week, but would not speculate about details of the conversation. Whoever he appoints to the empty Senate seat will need to run for re-election in 2012.