Gillibrand Seen As A Favorite for Clinton’s Seat

Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is the favorite to be appointed to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s old Senate seat, according to an upstate New York paper.

A “Washington source with close ties to Albany” told the Watertown Daily Times that Gillibrand appears to be the favorite to be selected by Gov. David Paterson (D-N.Y.).

Gillibrand, 42, is a centrist, two-term House member who represents a purple district just outside Albany.

Other possible choices for Paterson include Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Steve Israel and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. All are Democrats.

Caroline Kennedy, who was seen as a frontrunner, withdrew her name from consideration early Thursday, citing personal reasons