Clearing the field for Gillibrand, or at least trying to

Looks like the White House was at it again trying to clear the New York Democratic Senate primary for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Reid Wilson has the scoop:

Vice President Biden this week sat down with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) to urge her not to run for Senate.

Maloney has been making initial moves toward challenging Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in the 2010 Democratic primary, hiring public relations strategists and fundraisers in both Washington and New York.

It would be a primary national Democrats had hoped to avoid. Earlier this week, Vice President Joe Biden sat down with Maloney in New York City and urged her not to run, according to a senior White House official.

“We’ve made it clear we’re behind Sen. Gillibrand,” the official said.

Biden visited the Big Apple on Monday and Tuesday, hosting a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee on Monday night and events on the economic recovery package Tuesday. Later Tuesday, Biden attended New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine’s (D) campaign kickoff.

But even a sit-down with the vice president may not be enough to sway Maloney; she is among the several members of New York City’s congressional delegation who were upset that Gillibrand won the appointment to fill Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Senate seat, particularly given Gillibrand’s more centrist leanings on issues like immigration and gun rights.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com