Will Kathleen Be Next Kennedy in the White House?; BOBBY'S GIRL TIPPED FOR PRESIDENT

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KATHLEEN Townsend has known tragedy all her life - her father and uncle were murdered, her brother died from an overdose and a cousin died in an air crash just last year.

Yet in spite of her heartache, the brunette is tipped to be the first female US president.

Today, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is the highly effective Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and is almost certain to become the next Governor in 2002.

Earlier this year, she was tipped to become Al Gore's vice-presidential running mate.

But she wasn't ready and refused at the last minute, claiming there was too much unfinished business in Maryland which had to be dealt with.

"She said: "I think it's very important, given my family's history, to do the best I can with the days I have."

Kathleen is the eldest of …