Rangel: I don’t understand why Obama got involved in the NY primary

The Obama administration should stay out of New York’s likely-to-be-contested Democratic Senate primary, the dean of the New York congressional delegation said this weekend.

“I really don’t understand why President Obama got involved in our primary,” Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) told the New York Daily News.

“I don’t want to use the word wrong, but it doesn’t seem like the astute political thing to do,” Rangel added.

Political figures across the spectrum in Democratic politics have lined up for an expectedly contentious primary between appointed first-term Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and longer-serving Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).

Gillibrand was appointed to fill the Senate seat left vacant by now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

New York Gov. David Paterson’s (D) selection of Gillibrand, a relative newcomer, over more experienced politicos had driven the ire of some more senior members of the state’s congressional delegation.