| Of the endorsements she has received to date, the one Senator Kirsten Gillibrand received today might be the biggest endorsement from a member of the congressional delegation.
Representative Jerrold Nadler announced today that he is endorsing Gillibrand, calling her a "great partner on many progressive causes" and praising her for the work she has done on a number of issues, including the issues important to the LGBT community and fighting for a public option.
"From protecting a woman's right to choose and standing up for issues of pressing concern to the LGBT community, to fighting for a robust public health insurance option and protecting our environment by working to reduce harmful emissions, Kirsten Gillibrand has been a great partner on many progressive causes," Congressman Nadler said. "We have worked closely together to provide our 9/11 heroes and affected community members with the health care and compensation they deserve, and on a variety of other issues facing our State and the Nation. New Yorkers want and need Kirsten on their side and I'm proud to endorse her for U.S. Senate."
Nadler's endorsement gives Gillibrand endorsements from 17 members of the 27 Democratic representatives that make up the New York congressional delegation.
The full list is below (I did not include Nadler, since this post is about his endorsement):
•Congressman Michael Arcuri (NY-24)
•Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-11)
•Congressman Joe Crowley (NY-7)
•Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-17)
•Congressman John Hall (NY-19)
•Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27)
•Congressman Maurice Hinchey (NY-22)
•Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-18)
•Congressman Dan Maffei (NY-25)
•Congressman Eric Massa (NY-29)
•Congressman Michael McMahon (NY-13)
•Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY-6)
•Congressman Scott Murphy (NY-20)
•Congressman Ed Towns (NY-10)
•Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (NY-12)
•Congressman Anthony Weiner (NY-9)
One of the findings in the Marist poll was that 59 percent of Democrats who were surveyed said that they would support Gillibrand while 84 percent of Republicans said they would support Giuliani. The huge commitment by Republicans to support Giuliani is just how the Republican Party: When it is time to support their candidate, they usually do (See Scozzafava, Dede for an example of what happens when they don't). That strong support helps give Giuliani a 14 point lead in the poll. Everyone considers it a "weak" showing by Gillibrand, but I see it as a weak showing among Democrats who, almost a year after her appointment, are ignoring Gillibrand's record in the Senate and instead are looking for some reason to dislike her because of what she was in the past (a Blue Dog Democrat from a conservative district in upstate New York).
When looking at Gillibrand, it is easy to look at the past. You want an example of looking at the present and future? Look at why Nadler endorsed her. He made it clear: She is a partner on progressive issues. Her record as a U.S. senator has shown that and instead of just using her time as a Blue Dog and other ridiculous things against her, we should take the time to acknowledge the great work she is doing as a U.S. senator. |
