Gillibrand announces endorsements from Sharpton, Rep. Meeks

If another House member is threatening to primary her, it must be time to roll out more endorsements for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Now that it’s become clear Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) is building up a Senate campaign, Gillibrand is announcing the support of Rev. Al Sharpton and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.).

Both Meeks’s and Sharpton’s endorsements could help Gillibrand with black voters in New York City.

Meeks joins Reps. John Hall, Scott Murphy, Michael Arcuri, Yvette Clarke, Michael McMahon, Maurice Hinchey and Brian Higgins in supporting Gillibrand.

She will have more trouble getting the backing of other members of the delegation, like Reps. Tim Bishop, Jerrold Nadler and Steve Israel. Not to mention the fact that Israel, Maloney, and Reps. Carolyn McCarthy and Jose Serrano have openly talked about challenging her.

Israel announced last month that he wouldn’t run, after a phone call from President Obama, and McCarthy has now said she won’t run either.

Don’t expect any of them to jump to Gillibrand’s side, but if they do, that would be a huge endorsement.

Update 12:02 p.m.: Gillibrand spokesman Matt Canter notes the senator also has the backing of Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and that “the campaign expects to announce more support from the NYC-based members of the delegation in the coming days.”