January 23rd, 2009
07:21 AM ET
9 years ago
Paterson picks Gillibrand as Clinton successor
NEW YORK (CNN) - New York Gov. David Paterson has chosen Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to sources close to the decision.
Gillibrand, 42, represents New York's traditionally Republican 20th district. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of congressional Democrats who hold more conservative views than their liberal Democratic counterparts. She is an outspoken advocate for gun rights, and she supports an extension of the Bush tax cuts.
Caroline Kennedy, seen as a favorite to fill the vacant seat, withdrew her name from consideration Wednesday, citing personal reasons.
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we know nothing about her.
Oh my! Mister Governor, better watch your back! Former Clinton staffer who worked with Andrew Cuomo in the Clinton Administration.
Watch the Primary, it will be contested.
Here come the Blue Dogs!!!
Weak choice. Looking forward to the republicans winning the seat back in the upcoming election.
Sounds like the least appropriate option on the face of it – great shame if it was all about the electoral prospects of Gov Paterson.
Good choice, Governor!
And she calls herself a democrat? I don't live in NY, and I didn't think that Kennedy should get it on name recognition, but I think you should have gone with who the people in the state were saying they wanted. That Commo (sp) guy. Although I do like that he chose a woman at least.
Great – In the sole interest of appointing a woman, Patterson appointed someone that is, in essence, a Republican. Lets hope that Patterson is forced to pay the price for it when he comes up for reelection.
Good choice!
sounds like same old.wornout bush people.blue dog dem my s.
I'm upstate NY & in 2 years she will NOT get my vote
Kirsten Gillibrand will be a great member of the Senate. Very much a centrist. Go Kirsten!!!
Gillibrand/? 2016
As a NY republican, I must say Good Job to Gov. Patterson. This is an excellent choice and a wise political move to actually practice what the Democrats are trying to preach. This is (finally) change coming to Washington. Someone who is not a DC insider, someone who actually deserves the position on her merits, not her name, who may actually be able to reach across the aisle to extend an olive branch of bi-partisanship.
Here's the question for Ticker bloggers, however...will any of you (and yes, you know who you are) post criticism of Senator Gillibrand for "not staying home to raise her infant child" as you did with Governor Palin? An how many of you will be critical of her for having a child after she turned 40? I'm guessing we won't read those comments now that the shoe is on the other foot. That's a good thing. Just play it both ways, please.
Let's hope she only serves 2 years
A supporter of guns and tax cuts for the rich? The world needs none of those.
Will she represent all of NY while she is in the Senate? How much of this was to get Paterson's name in good standing in upstate NY? Do they have any prior relationship, understanding or interactions prior to this appointment?
Yes, and most important she is an upstate person, someone who can represent the entire state, not just NYC.
Before all of the out of state blogs appear, I believe Gov. Patterson has made a great choice here. I wish her the best of luck, and I'll see her in 2012 as her political and ideological opposition.
Again my best wishes for sucess to her from the lonely Libertarian of Liverpool.
Yeaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....way to go Paterson! I knew you'd come through. 🙂
She seems more like a Republican than a Democrat, just based on this small bit of information. I don't know how she will play out in NY though, I think they usually prefer someone famous and with celebrity status over there.
Not the brightest move that Paterson could make. The democrats will likely lose that congressional seat, and she will likely lose the senate seat in 2010.
sooo...he picked her based off of her chances of winning next election, and re-election hopes? What about "for the people", which the people of NY did state who they wanted...and should couldn't even get into 10%.
This is a very good choice.
She can only be an improvement on her predecessor.
Good! We need more grounded people in Washington, not more royalty. She is serving as a representative so she has experience, you know and is a Blue Dog Coalition member so that's a plus, you know.
And best of all, endorsed by the NRA!.You know. I guess she got the message that she needs more experience before anything else,you know, so she made the right decision.You know
When it came to Caroline Kennedy's decision to withdraw, Gov. Paterson never saw it coming.
A fiscally conservative Democrat and an "advocate for gun rights" from New York???
That's a rare breed.