The confirmation of Clinton as Secretary would give Paterson the power to appoint her Senate successor. Caroline Kennedy wants the job and Paterson has said he's considering her along with other candidates. The governor has also said he has discussed the seat with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and unnamed others.

Among those who are also said to be interested in the Senate seat are , Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi of Long Island, and Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel, Jerrold Nadler, Kirsten Gillibrand and  Higgins. It is not known how many of them were asked by Paterson for background materials.

When Clinton was first selected, Higgins name was featured as a possible upstate replacement.  Early speculation also centered on Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown as a possible candidate, but WBEN has learned the mayor has not been asked to submit materials.

"Sure the mayor is disappointed but it's a long shot for someone from upstate anyways," says WBEN Politics Host Kevin Hardwick of Canisius College. "It's just a question of whether the Governor is really serious about Brian Higgins or if he is just going through the motions so that it looks as if he looked at someone from this neck of the woods."

As governor and head of the Democratic Party in the state, Paterson has said he will take advice from his closest advisers in and outside government, including other elected and party officials. But he has also said that the decision is his alone, and that he will choose a senator who meets his requirements, including the ability to bring federal aid back to New York.

If he does name her to the seat, Kennedy will have plenty of time and millions of dollars to spend on TV campaign ads to redefine her public image before she goes before voters in 2010 in a special election. 

"I think she's obviously the front runner," Hardwick says.

As for Paterson, he is acting increasingly miffed at the constant news attention over the decision. He has repeatedly said he won't announce a successor to Clinton until she is confirmed as secretary of state. He also said he hasn't yet interviewed Kennedy, something he plans to do with all the applicants.

"We have a rumor every day now," he said to reporters Friday, denying that his decision was imminent. "It's unbelievable."

 An announcement could come toward the end of next week.  The Senate committee is expected to vote on Clinton's nomination next Thursday, at the start of a confirmation hearing on Susan Rice, Obama's pick to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"My guess is he wants to get this decision out of the way because there are so many other things pending in Albany that he doesn't want it to be anymore of a distraction than it is now," Hardwick says.