THE daughter of former US president John F. Kennedy wants to take Hillary Clinton's US Senate seat when she becomes President-elect Barack Obama's Secretary of State, a Democratic Party source says.

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg has spoken to New York Governor David Paterson about the idea. The prominent member of the Kennedy clan is the niece of brothers Edward and Robert Kennedy. Robert Kennedy held the New York seat from 1965 until his assassination in 1968.

The Governor has said he is in no rush to decide and Senator Clinton is not giving up the seat before she is confirmed in her new post.