We Have a New Senator

(UPDATE: Notice Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll's prime front row spot and contrast it with Congressman Dan Maffei fidgeting in the back.)

Later today, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand will be sworn in as New York State’s junior senator. Of all the candidates mentioned for this seat, Gov. Paterson’s pick was the best possible choice for Central and Upstate New York. Kirsten Gillibrand will be an asset for the region in the U.S. Senate if her voting record travels with her to the upper chamber. Gillibrand voted against the bailout, has a 100% rating from the NRA, supports the building of a security barrier on our southern border (with Mexico, not New Jersey), wants English as the official language and opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants. She is also pro-choice, supports stem cell research and opposes efforts to partially privatize Social Security.

The last time a New Yorker from outside of the five boroughs became Senator was in 1968 when Republican Charles Goodell was appointed to fill a vacancy upon Sen. Robert Kennedy’s death. Goodell was defeated when he stood for election two years later. Will history repeat itself? She is already being threatened with a primary for the 2010 special election due to her conservative views on several major issues. Polling shows that she has higher favorability ratings from Republicans than from Democrats so it will be interesting to see what happens in two years.