Ted Kennedy Lobbying for Caroline Senate Seat?

The AP is running its own version of a story that first appeared in The New York Times the subject of which should come as a shock to absolutely no one. Titled, "Edward Kennedy lobbying for niece Caroline Kennedy to be appointed Clinton's replacement in Senate", the piece reveals that Ted really likes his niece. Stop the presses. You mean to say that the guy who walked her down the aisle on her wedding day would go so far as to recommend her for a job? More intrigue:

And now Sen. Edward Kennedy, 76, is said to be working the phones to help his niece Caroline join the Senate.

Wow. What's to explain this strange behavior? Well, thankfully, the AP has an expert to weigh in on the matter:

"The Kennedys are tribal; there has been a Kennedy important in American politics now for more than a half-century," said a Boston College political science professor Marc Handy.

Who knew?

But before you point and click your way out of this story, there is controversy to be had. Today, The Times has thrown everything into question with, "Paterson Says Kennedy Has Not Called About Niece":

Gov. David A. Patterson and Senator Edward M. Kennedy's office on Tuesday both denied a New York times report that Mr. Kennedy had lobbied the governor on behalf of his niece Caroline Kennedy to be selected to fill the seat expected to be vacated by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Oh, boy. Better get a political science professor on the line to sort this whole thing out. Are the Kennedys tribal or not?