New York Gov. David Paterson (D) will announce his choice for the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tomorrow, at noon.

Earlier in the day, the governor released this statement regarding his conversations with Caroline Kennedy:

Last night Caroline Kennedy informed the Governor that she was withdrawing her name from consideration for an appointment to the United States Senate for personal reasons. This decision was hers alone.


The Governor had a private conversation with Ms. Kennedy yesterday afternoon. Out of respect for her decision making process, the Governor's Office did not respond to any inquiries in order to allow her time to deliberate. The Governor considers Caroline a friend and knows she will continue to serve New York well inside or outside of government. We wish her well in all her future endeavors.

The Governor is now entering the final phase of his selection process.

He has not informed any Senate candidates that they have not been selected, nor has any information gathered during this selection process created a necessity for any candidate to withdraw. Any speculation to the contrary is both inaccurate and inappropriate.

Meanwhile, if the choice is Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, as I have speculated, she is not going to have an easy ride to the Democratic nomination in the 2010 primary. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of Long Island told The New York Times she would mount a challenge to Gillibrand if Paterson names her.

McCarthy is best-known for being the Long Island housewife whose husband was killed by a gunman on the Long Island Rail Road in 1993. Her outrage over the easy accessibility of handguns is what led her to run for Congress. Gillibrand's support for the National Rifle Association has "outraged" McCarthy, according to the Times account by reporter Danny Hakim:

"Obviously, I'm very upset," Ms. McCarthy said. "I came to Congress to reduce gun violence in this country, and Mayor Bloomberg has been working diligently to get mayors across this country to help reduce gun violence."


"To have a senator representing the NRA for New York, that would be wrong," she added. "If it comes down to that, I will [run in the] primary in 2010."

She said that, alternatively, she would support a younger candidate if one were to come forward.

"I'm 65," she said, "but if no one else will go forward with it, then I will do it."

Ms. Gillibrand's centrist views helped her win her House seat, which was long held by Republicans. Her district stretches from Adirondacks to the Catskills and parts of the Hudson Valley.


categories: Washington Senators

5:19 - January 22, 2009

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