New York's Next Senator

New York, meet your new Hillary: Governor David Paterson has chosen upstate congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Clinton’s Senate seat. The 42-year-old representative from Hudson received her call from Paterson around 2 a.m. last night. Gillibrand was chosen with the strong support of senior New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who wanted both a woman and an upstater to replace Hillary, but not everyone is happy about the pick: Gillibrand is disliked by some of her colleagues, writes the New York Post, for being a “self-promoter” and her backing by the NRA worries several of her more liberal colleagues. At least five members of New York’s democratic congressional delegation called Paterson last night to protest the choice, with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of Nassau County even threatening a primary challenge already in 2010. Gillibrand also opposed the TARP package and is “less than enthusiastic” about gay marriage.