| Benjamin notes that the decision is a surprise, since Senor had been, like Harold Ford before him, making the rounds of Manhattan moneybags and national political consultants and pollsters.
And he addressed the Wall Street-wingnut Monday Meeting just two days ago.
Senor's semi-candidacy was so new it hadn't been publicly polled, but you better believe that Senor did some private polling, and it did nothing to encourage him to give up his hedge fund gig.
As an appointed freshman Senator, Gillibrand has attracted several notionally top-tier possible challengers, three of whom campaigned for a while and polled -- Senor, Ford and Rep. Carolyn Maloney -- then decided against a run.
The only potential top-tier challenger remaining is former Gov. George Pataki, who hasn't ruled it out because he likes to read his name in the papers, but is considered highly unlikely to give up his lucrative, no-hard-lifting influence-peddling job for a campaign he would probably lose.
The two announced candidates, and one set to announce, are D-list Republicans well-known only to their family and friends.
Fourteen months ago, some people worried that Gillibrand might lose this seat, especially since she was a little-known Congresswoman from upstate who had taken conservative positions on gun control and immigration.
After being appointed, Gillibrand modified those positions to reflect the views of her statewide constituency.
And she has worked hard to overcome the doubters, with some help from Sen. Schumer and President Obama.
In the Senate, Gillibrand has been a staunch supporter of Obama/Democratic programs, and has herself become a leader on issues like repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and children's health.
And she has tirelessly traveled the state (all 62 counties) on weekends and recesses to meet her constituents in venues large and small.
Like many before him, Senor underestimated Gillibrand, and found out he was wrong about that before wasting seven months on a sure-loser campaign. |
