Clinton's Senate successor is Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand: NY station
New York City television station WPIX is reporting tonight that the state's Democratic governor, David Paterson, has settled on Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand as the successor for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's now-vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Quoting unnamed sources, the station reported on its website moments ago (Hat Tip Don Surber) that the governor would make the announcement at noon Friday in Albany. He has reportedly invited the state's entire congressional delegation to attend then, but asked Gillibrand to arrive at 11.
The governor's office would not confirm or deny the report.
Gillibrand is a moderate Democrat, the 42-year-old mother of two young children who lives in Hudson, N.Y., and is in her second House term.
Most important, perhaps, for Paterson, Gillibrand (pronounced JILL-a-brand) gives him not only a female on his ticket in next year's statewide elections, when she must run to fill the remaining two years of Clinton's term; Gillibrand's also an upstater to balance the dominant downstate power of New Yorkers like himself and Clinton that arouses such traditional resentment in the north.
She's known as a Blue Dog Democrat, not always popular with liberals for her support of the National Rifle Assn. in her significantly rural 20th District, but said to be Clinton's favorite as her replacement.
The report follows by a day the withdrawal of Caroline Kennedy from the competition. Once considered a shoo-in, she ran into difficulties. She says her exit is for personal reasons. But it might also be that she knew she would not get Paterson's political nod. If the report proves true, it leaves New York Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo, considered the most experienced candidate, out in the cold without the prominence to challenge Paterson so easily.
-- Andrew Malcolm
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Photo credit: Office of Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand
happy days for the Repub's. I bet he did this to entice Rudy to run for Senate, not Governor. He should have picked himself cuz Andy is gonna administer a serious butt whipping in the primary.
Gillibrand will never survive a primary herself in 2010. She's cute tho, too bad her experience is the same as Palin's.
In addition, Gillibrand's seat is in a Repub leaning district that in normal years will vote for a Repub. He may have given this seat back to them.
Maybe Spitzer was the hope the dead Repub Party of NY needed, but Paterson could be the catalsyt.
Posted by: swift boater | January 22, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Wow! This woman makes Sarah Palin look like Rosie O'Donnell with a mustache.
Posted by: Joe the Licensed Plumber | January 22, 2009 at 09:15 PM
Unbelieveable - all these posts use unfounded arguments. Gillibrand is far more capable than the media's former favorite, Caroline, to fill the Senate seat, due to Gillibrands experience in the house - very similar to the experience that our current president had when elected to his office - I guess you wouldn't argue he has none? Thought so. A woman with children, can succeed at being an excellent Senator, it shows she cares about the future of our nation, and her backing from the NRA, indicates that she will do her best to uphold all facets of the constitution, including the 2nd amendment. Everyone has a right to an opinion and the right to express that opinion, just think about your arguments before you tear someone apart due to their appearance, gender, or the information main stream media feeds you. Otherwise you might just be drinking the kool aid and quite possibily reveling in ignorance.
Posted by: scgirl | January 23, 2009 at 01:41 PM