by Michael Muskal
Neophyte Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is running far ahead of any possible challenger, a bright spot for Democrats trying to prevent Republicans from seizing control of Congress in the midterm election year.
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, Gillibrand, who is running for her first term after being appointed to the seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, easily outdistanced all three possible GOP challengers. Former Rep. Joe DioGuardi gives Gillibrand the toughest fight but still loses by 43% to 28%, according to the poll.
Gillbrand was a two-term congresswoman from a district near the state capital of Albany when she was appointed to the Senate by beleagured Gov. David Paterson in a surprise move on Jan. 23, 2009. Paterson -- who replaced Gov. Eliot Spitzer who was forced to resign amid a sex scandal -- saw his political base quickly evaporate and was not seeking election. Gillibrand is seeking election to a term that ends 2013.
Gillibrand should have long been a target for Republicans, who need a net gain of 10 seats to wrest control of the U.S. Senate. She is an upstate Democrat, more conservative than most of the party still centered on New York City. Even now, after more than a year and a half in office, the poll found that 39% of those surveyed said they didn't know enough about her to form an opinion.
Her ace in the hole, however, has turned out to be the GOP, facing internal splits in a year when New York and national politics should have given Republicans a boost.
Comments
Wow... A bright spot in the most liberal state in the union!!
That's really something to hang your hat on.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 1, 2010 2:15 PM
39% of the NY voters don't enough about her; however, they do know about the democrats lousy policies and how it has wrecked the economy. Did I mention Dodd-Frank Act and the negative effect it will have on the NY economy?
If she wins, its single digits at best
Posted by: Terry | September 1, 2010 7:56 PM
Speaking of the dems problems - Ohio voters - swing state voters, prefer President Bush over BO by 50 to 42.
http://dailymail.com/blog.html
Posted by: Terry | September 1, 2010 8:13 PM
This is like Nancy Pelosi being re-elected in a 70% democrat district. What a surprise. Why do you think Hillary ran here in the first place? Because she loves NY? I don't think so. Hillary will run against Obama in 2012 and she will be the democrat candidate. Why do you think Bill Clinton confessed to doing the wrong thing in 1999, with bad advice from Obama's econ adviser Larry Summers? Just a coincidence? I don't think so....
Obama thinks he politics pretty good; he doesn't know the Clintons.
Posted by: Free To Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | September 2, 2010 5:39 AM
Gillibrand is over due a target for Republicans, who need a net gain of 10 seats to wrest control of the Senate. It is an upstate Democrat, more conservative than most of the game is still centered around New York.
Posted by: translation services | September 2, 2010 7:08 AM
That only speaks for the brilliance of the typical N.Y. voter, Not!
Posted by: Paul | September 2, 2010 4:11 PM