Here are some of the names being mentioned to replace Sen. Clinton. Keep in mind that Gov. Paterson will want to appoint someone who will be a strong leader and representative for New York, but also someone who will help him politically.
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Rep. Nydia Velazquez: Rep. Velazquez was being mentioned as a possible front-runner for the post. Rep. Velazquez represents parts of Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan and Queens. She has two things on her side: She is a Latino and a woman. If Gov. Paterson wants to raise his profile among the Latinos in New York, appointing Rep. Velazquez would be a smart move. But there are also some who will say that he should replace a woman (Sen. Clinton) with another woman. Rep. Velazquez was recently named chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a tremendous honor for her and proof that she has what it takes to become a U.S. senator.
Rep. Steve Israel: Rep. Israel has had his eyes on this opportunity for some time. As New York's DCCC head, he has helped turn New York really blue. Of the 29 representatives in the House of Representatives from New York, 26 will be Democrats as of January 1, 2009. Israel hails from Long Island, a place where Democrats have been breaking through over the last few years. Israel is a moderate and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. That will help him in upstate, but might not be good enough for downstate Democrats who tend to be more liberal. Plus, Israel has a few things going against him: He is from downstate and some do see that as a detriment (they see it as a detriment with Velazquez as well) and he is white. Having minority representation in the upper house of Congress would be great for New York. Israel would be a real safe choice, but he wouldn't be the most progressive choice and I doubt he would help Gov. Paterson politically.
Rep. Brian Higgins: Rep. Higgins is arguably the best choice out of the crop of possibilities from upstate New York. Higgins represents a district that encompasses most of Erie County and all of Chautauqua County in Western New York. The district also includes a healthy portion of Buffalo, the second-largest city in the state. Gov. Paterson would win over a lot of voters in upstate New York should he pick Higgins. Upstate, at the time, is a weakness for Gov. Paterson so having Higgins as a U.S. senator would be very beneficial for him.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo: Andrew Cuomo has already been tested in a statewide election, having won in 2006 to become New York State's Attorney General, replacing Eliot Spitzer, who went on to become governor of New York. Cuomo is seen as a possible primary contender to Paterson in 2010, so appointing Cuomo (with Cuomo's acceptance) would mean that Paterson would shed a possible primary opponent. Cuomo did serve in President Bill Clinton's administration and he was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. He is someone with statewide appeal who would probably be accepted by all sides. Whether or not he would actually help Gov. Paterson by being a U.S. senator remains to be seen.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: The Kennedy name is a distinguished one. Robert F. Kennedy served as a U.S. senator from New York prior to his presidential campaign and his assassination in 1968. So having his son, a well-known environmentalist who is a strong progressive, fill the seat might be fitting. RFK Jr. comes with tremendous upside. He does have his flaws. Unlike the rest of the competition (with one or two exceptions), he is not an elected official. He is not tested, so that might disqualify him if Gov. Paterson is looking for someone with elected status. But he does have the Kennedy name, a strong record as an environmentalist and someone who isn't oblivious to what goes on in Washington D.C.
Leecia Eve: Eve's name entered the picture in the last few days and might be the person who ends up replacing Sen. Clinton. Eve was vying for lieutenant governor before Eliot Spitzer ended up picking Paterson to be his running-mate. Eve has homeland security experience as an aide to Sen. Clinton on that topic and Eve has ties to Buffalo, where she attended high school and grew up. Being from upstate will help and being a black woman will be helpful too. She has already won over support from downstate in the past so doing it again should not be difficult. Keep an eye on her. She might be the replacement.
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Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand: Rep. Gillibrand is a moderate-to-conservative representative from upstate New York. She is a woman, which is a plus if she wants to replace Sen. Clinton. She also could win over upstate New York without any trouble. The problem is downstate and Gov. Paterson. Would she help Gov. Paterson politically? Maybe, maybe not. She is a proven fundraiser, but whether or not she can win over New York City and downstate Democrats remains to be seen.
Rep. Gregory Meeks: Rep. Meeks is probably the longest of long-shots because he really seems content with where he is. Meeks isn't the biggest name in the New York congressional delegation so picking him to replace Sen. Clinton would be tough. He wouldn't be a bad senator, but he would have to overcome a lot of big names to get there.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler: Rep. Nadler wouldn't be a bad choice, but he seems to be content with where he is too. His name has received only a passing mention. He is very qualified should he want to move up to the U.S. Senate but it would be hard to find the ways in which he helps Gov. Paterson.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown: This one is another long-shot, but Mayor Brown does have his eyes on higher office. His name has been mentioned as a possible replacement to Rep. Louise Slaughter when she decides to step aside. He wouldn't be a bad pick for the U.S. Senate for Gov. Paterson. Brown and Paterson are friends from their days in the New York State Senate, so the pick isn't impossible. But it is a pick that probably won't happen. Brown's sights are on higher office. But probably not that high.
Eliot Spitzer: Don't shoot the messenger on this one. Spitzer's name has received a passing mention, but this will clearly hurt Gov. Paterson politically in 2010. Paterson doesn't need Spitzer to drag his name down. Spitzer might be poised to make a comeback at some point, but it shouldn't be at the expense of Paterson.
There is one name that has been ruled out of the running for the seat and that is Gov. Paterson's. The possibility does exist that Paterson could appoint himself to the post, but he has said that will not happen. Paterson does not want to leave behind a fiscal crisis here in New York. He feels it is his job to stay around and address the problem and everything he has said indicates he will do that. Appointing himself is not an option.
I should also note that this list of names continues to grow and will continue to grow as time passes by. That is just natural because names will come and go. One day we could be talking about the "front-runner" and the next day we could be talking about a completely different person who is the front-runner. Once Sen. Clinton departs, it will be interesting. New York politics has never been boring, so this will be something to watch unfold once Sen. Clinton exits the picture.
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