Is she running or not?
That’s the question everyone wants answered from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. At first, it looked like a near certainty that she would jump into the race for US Senate against the appointed incumbent, Kirsten Gillibrand.
But with each passing day, that’s looking less and less likely. Earlier today, her own campaign staff was throwing cold water on the idea of a statewide run, saying that she was probably not going to follow through on her desire to challenge Gillibrand in the Democratic primary.
Politico has the scoop:
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is leaning heavily against challenging Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in next year’s primary, according to several prominent New York pols who have spoken with her in recent days.
“She told me she probably wasn’t going to do it,” said one New Yorker who has been in contact with the Manhattan Democrat.
Sources cautioned that the mercurial Maloney — reportedly incensed by the efforts of the White House and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) to force her out of the race — hasn’t made a final decision.
The article goes on to point out that the Maloney campaign, which is still unofficial at this point, has suffered some big setbacks in recent days. Her fundraising has been unable to even match half the amount of money that Gillibrand has been raking in. Then there was the truly bizarre incident earlier this month in which Maloney, during an interview with a newspaper reporter from NYC, used the “N”-word to somehow attack her wouldbe opponent. And of course, Gillibrand keeps racking up an army of endorsements.
In sum, Maloney’s campaign has been in trouble even before it started. If the congresswoman is to salvage her political influence and any chance she has of winning this race, she needs to fish or cut bait — and she can’t wait until after the August recess.
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I wish she would. Heard her speak a while back at an event in Seneca Falls and thought she really had moxie.
I don’t like the wishy-washy ones. They either are or are not and I suppose at this point if she hasn’t said she is, then she is not. That’s why I still like Tasini…he is.