NY Post: Top Bloomberg deputy Kevin Sheekey is cutting back his efforts to push Kennedy into the Senate, amid her poor reception to date.

Sources: “It wasn’t working,” “Everything was backfiring.”

“They were out there way, way too early.”

But: Bloomberg sticks up for Kennedy Tuesday, amid derision of her verbal tics: “If there is anyone who understands the pain and suffering from having the press criticize how you speak, it is me.”