NY-Sen: Dean To Endorse Gillibrand

by Josh Orton, Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 09:40:22 AM EDT

Via NY political junkie Ben Smith:

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean will be the latest in a parade of left-leaning supporters for Senator Kristen Gillibrand, who may face a challenge from her left next year.

Dean will endorse her today, a source said, tying his backing to her suport for a public health insurance option.

At this point in the cycle, I'm not sure how productive it is to wage a primary challenge against Gillibrand, especially when she's comfortable leading on issues like health care and the repeal of DADT. If the goal of a primary challenge from the left is to pull the incumbent left (or to just keep them honest) I'm not sure the potential margin is all that significant in New York.

But I fully understand the frustration folks feel when the national party bigfoots primaries - it's why I'm excited about Joe Sestak.

Tags: Howard Dean, kristin gillibrand, NY-SEN (all tags)

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5 Comments

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This may have to do with health care

Maloney had the opportunity put herself in a position to make Gillibrand very uncomfortable...and she blew it big time

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009 07/10/why-is-carolyn-maloney-wasting-ou r-time

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009 07/14/carolyn-maloney-ill-vote-for-a-bi ll-that-doesnt-have-a-public-plan

She gave Gillibrand a huge opening to position herself as more progressive on that issue too...on top of allowing Gillibrand to position herself as a bigger advocate for LGBT rights and suck up an important voting bloc in NYC.

Also Gillibrand ridiculously outraised Maloney;

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics /2009/07/15/2009-07-15_gillibrand_holds_ 2_to_1_cash_advantage_over_challenger_.h tml

by DTOzone 2009-07-15 09:56AM | 0 recs
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Re: NY-Sen: Dean To Endorse Gillibrand

It's looking like Todd Beeton made the right decision after all.

by esconded 2009-07-15 10:28AM | 0 recs
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Re: NY-Sen: Dean To Endorse Gillibrand

If only he could avoid the Michael Jackson jokes!

by Steve M 2009-07-15 10:38AM | 0 recs
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Maloney does not appear

to be a serious challenger.  And she also does not appear to be significantly to the left (if at all) of the "new" Gillibrand.

by JJE 2009-07-15 11:49AM | 0 recs
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I never wanted Gillibrand challenged......

Gillibrand is no Specter.  She is a liberal who as a House member voted against her own heart to conform to her centrist upstate electorate.  I always figured she'd pivot left, closer to her personal politics, as a Senator representing a liberal electorate.  And sure enough, that's what she's done.

MAYBE the primary threat helped move her along faster than she would have moved otherwise, and in that respect maybe it was helpful.

But we don't want a REAL primary threat come 2010.  Gillibrand is just fine.

Specter, on the other hand, is a different story; if he survives the primary, he'll pivot away from the left immediately afterward.  Go Sestak!

by DCCyclone 2009-07-15 05:11PM | 0 recs

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