Showdown for Gillibrand's Old District Today

When Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate, it set off a fight for her old Congressional stomping ground, the 20th district in upstate New York. Now Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R) and venture capitalist Scott Murphy (D) are vying for the seat.

Gillibrand's victory was surprising, because the area was a traditional Republican stronghold, and inspiring, because she was able to win as a (blue dog) Democrat. Which is why Politico wonders if today's special election between Tedisco and Murphy is an "election or Rorschach test"—some see it as "a referendum on President Barack Obama’s stimulus package" while "others see it as a test of the beleaguered Republican Party’s popularity or of Michael Steele’s stewardship of the Republican National Committee. And then there is the notion that it is a harbinger of the shape of the 2010 election landscape." (Whether the seat remains Democrat or become Republican won't impact the Democrats' House majority.)

Murphy earned Obama's endorsement last week, while Tedisco got Rudy Giuliani to robocall for him (Gillibrand robocalled for Murphy). While Murphy has been competitive with Tedisco in the polls, recently Dealbook looked at how ire over Wall Street compensation might reflect badly on businessman Murphy.