Sharpton: "Mystical Powers" Keep Gillibrand Unchallenged

One potential opponent after another has considered challenging Kirsten Gillibrand in the upcoming race for her senate seat, but though she’s been called “bland” and out of touch, most have stepped back. So how has the junior Democratic senator—who’s never been elected statewide and hasn’t performed well in the polls—staved off rivals like Tenesseean Harold Ford Jr., Daily News publisher Mort Zukerman, ex-governor George Pataki and more? Rev. Al Sharpton suggests that she “either has mystical powers or the best luck I have ever seen in politics…It is amazing.”

The Times points to one obvious strength: money in the bank. Thanks to a network of donors, many of whom are women and a strong geographic base around Albany, Gillibrand has $5.1 in campaign funds. She’s also a hard worker, according to many of her peers, even those that dislike her. At this point she only has “token” Republican opponents, including mayoral race dropout Bruce Blakeman, ex-economist David Malpass and American Idol dad Joe DioGuardi, and opposition from within her party has disappeared altogether.

Gillibrand may also have a secret weapon, according to Politico. It says that though powerful former senator Al D’Amato has publicly endorsed Bruce Blakeman, he’s “working behind the scenes,” convincing potential rivals not to go up against Gillibrand, who he’s known since she was born. It's not unlikely, since from the beginning the Democrat has had support in high places, including from senior senator Chuck Schumer and from President Barack Obama.

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By Sabrina Jaszi in News on April 3, 2010 10:55 AM

Comments [rss]

EastRiver

Gillibrand has $5.1 in campaign funds.

Poor thing better get moving. Or maybe you left a word out. . .

Jeremy

I'm looking forward to a real Senate race now.

I don't care about the physical characteristics and family fame, but rather the candidate whose current agenda / priorities includes fiscal policy, job creation, reform on the national debt and government spending, and money back to New York has got my vote.

Jeremy

I was looking for the missing word too!

Atomische

The NYTimes forgot to mention that she's prettier than Hillary.

Spirit of 76

That's not a feat when she's 19 years younger than Hillary. Arguably, Clinton looked better when she was in the White House, and she was still older at the time than Gillibrand is today. Get back to us in 20 years, when she's a 350-pound porker with crevasses for facial wrinkles.

Kojak

Marginally so. Still not fapworthy

jgonzz

So, since she doesn't have the Tawana Stink, Al is all discombobulated...

Sinchy

This is one of the problems with our media- they only pay attention to the corporate candidates or the right wing wackos but never a lefty labor type guy like

http://jonathantasini.com/

There is a challenger! Only the MSM would like to ignore him because he would push for policies that help the middle class and poor not the well connected fat cats who are bringing down our economy with war and unfettered greed

dr zippy

The media ignore Tasini for exactly the same reasons they have ignored Blakeman, Malpass and DioGuardi. They no money, no political clout, and no chance of winning. DioGuardi got a minimal amount of attention because he's an ex-Congressman and father of a d-list celebrity.

Kojak

I don't care if our senator is bland & lame. I care more about her ability to do her job.

She reminds me of Hillary, minus the attitude.

jt10000

Yeah. She's workmanlike. Nothing nutty or over the top. Reasonable politics. I'd like her to be more liberal, but she's got appropriate politics considering voters in the state as a whole. Frankly I don't think someone like that should get a primary challenge.