The major difference is that they were "elected" to a state level office. The public voted them in! Far less a political jump than from celebrity politicians daughter to the Senate.

I do not have a problem with her as a person. I'm sure that she has done many wonderful things in life because of her Kennedy name, daughter of President John F. Kennedy. But appointing her to an important public office because of her name status is wrong. Why didn't she get involved in politics at a lower level, say run for governor of NY? Was it not worth it to her? But, she'll take an appointment to the Senate with effortless ease!