Toward the exciting Top Senator finale
Updated at 9:15 pm: This TU article contains the best evidence we've seen that Paterson will name Gillibrand on Friday.
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After supposed front-runner Caroline Kennedy dropped out last night because of (a tax problem?, a nanny problem?, a public speaking problem?, a who-knows-what problem?), the media has picked a new front runner. And it's Kirsten Gillibrand.
As you can probably imagine, that has people scrambling.
+ North Country Public Radio reports that Gillibrand's office is "being flooded with press inquiries from around the world."
+ Sandy Treadwell says he'll run again for Gillibrand's seat if she's picked. NCPR reports that Republican state Senator Betty Little is already angling for Gillibrand's seat. The TU reports that Republicans Jim Tedisco and John Faso (he ran against Spitzer for governor in 2006) are also among the anglers.
+ The conventional wisdom has been that one thing holding Gillibrand back for the Senate is that state Democrats don't want to open her seat to a Republican challenge. But in an extensive breakdown of the enrollment numbers, the TU's Irene Liu points out that Gillibrand's district could be relatively easily broken up during the redistricting coming in 2010.
+ Jerry Jennings is backing Andrew Cuomo over Gillibrand, according to Liz Benjamin.
+ The Village Voice's Wayne Barrett details Gillibrand's extensive political connections in New York State and questions if she's "too Republican" for the job.
+ On Intrade, the predictions market, options on Gillibrand are trading at almost 50 this afternoon -- which means the "market" thinks she has a 50 percent shot of getting the seat. Options for Andrew Cuomo are sliding -- they were at 33 this afternoon. (Warning: the Intrade links re-size the browser window -- it's annoying, but there's no other way to link directly to relevant pages.)
+ Peter King, the Republican House member who's talked about running for the Senate seat in 2010, said today the process has become "a circus." [via Liz Benjamin] And a Republican state senator recently referred to the selection process as "a game show."
Well, yeah.
The word going around now is that Paterson will announce his choice on Friday -- but, hey, things change.
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Comments
And the New junior Senator from New York is....Drum roll please....
Pantaloons!
... said komradebob on Jan 22, 2009 at 6:03 PM | link
Well, it seems its a good thing that C dropped out. She did not seem to have what it takes to even umm... put umm... a whole... umm sentence together....
... said HRgreen on Jan 22, 2009 at 10:22 PM | link
One only needed to view Google Trends.
http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?q=kirsten+gillibrand&date=2009-1-23&sa=X
She was in the top 100 early yesterday 1/22. No Cuomo, Malony, Israel, Sousi etc. Google imo let the cat out.
... said Jeff on Jan 23, 2009 at 6:46 AM | link
So now what's the process for filling her Congressional seat? Fear Factor? The Bachelor? American Idol?
... said Amy on Jan 23, 2009 at 9:03 AM | link
Jim Tedisco, on the Fred Dicker Show, just threw his hat in the ring.
... said Jeff on Jan 23, 2009 at 10:48 AM | link
So now who replaces Gillibrand? And then who replaces that person? This whole thing is like a game of political tetris.
... said Pantaloons on Jan 23, 2009 at 11:05 AM | link
There would be a special election to replace Gillibrand, but we're having trouble figuring out the exact rules. (You can read the NYS law here.)
Anyone know how this works?
... said Greg on Jan 23, 2009 at 11:33 AM | link
This entire process, if you can call it that, unfortunately shows Paterson to be somewhat inept. Add that to a budget proposal with no new ideas except oddball (and regressive) taxes and fees instead of a genuinely progressive income tax, his failure to control the leaders' meeting at the end of 2008, and generally some poor judgement when it comes to his appointments. I don't see him being elected in his own right. And Andrew Cuomo is going to give him one hell of a fight over the nomination. He'll regret not sending Andrew off to Washington. At least that's the view from Albany. Maybe he's still popular in the rest of the state.
... said chrisck on Jan 23, 2009 at 12:11 PM | link
I'm not upset over this appointment; I actually like Gillibrand. But what makes me even more excited is that with Andrew Cuomo still in NY State, we have a chance of a better democrat governor than we have now.
... said Ellie on Jan 23, 2009 at 1:10 PM | link
@Amy, I think "The Bachelor"-style would be a great way to replace Gillibrand. Have those law-signing fountain pen things instead of roses and gradually have the potential "suitors" backstab each other, cry and fight each other out of the game. May the cattiest contender win... oh, wait... isn't that kind of what already happens?
Darn that whole special election statute.
... said Kate on Jan 23, 2009 at 2:19 PM | link
@Kate The Bachelor would be fun - and no doubt each elimination would be "THE. MOST. DRAMATIC. PEN. CEREMONY. EVER."
But American Idol style could be pretty amusing, as well. Especially by forcing them to sing NY classics like, "I've got an old mule and her name is Sal..."
... said Amy on Jan 26, 2009 at 5:43 PM | link
Three words:
Bowling for Congress!
... said komradebob on Jan 26, 2009 at 10:34 PM | link