In another sign that he seriously plans to challenge embattled Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in this year’s Democratic primary, ex-Tennessee Rep.Harold Ford Jr. has taken a leave of absence from his Wall Street job so he can have more free time to travel around the state.
A Ford spokesman told the Associated Press today that Ford took a 30-day leave from his job as vice chairman of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Davidson Goldin said Ford wants to focus on “listening to New Yorkers and discussing his goals as an independent Democrat” while he decides whether to challenge Gillibrand in a primary.
The former Tennessee congressman has been meeting with elected officials and other political operatives recently. He plans to travel to Long Island this week and upstate next week.
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In a column that appeared in The Post last week, Ford wrote that he is “strongly considering” running for senate.
“New Yorkers expect a politics where politicians do what’s right based on independent judgment, free of political bosses trying to dictate,” he wrote in the Jan. 12 column. “And New Yorkers want an honest and serious debate about how to grow our economy, create new jobs downstate and upstate and keep New York state and our country safe.”
Former Long Island lawmaker Bruce Blakeman announced his Republican Senate campaign on Sunday, saying he plans to take on either Gillibrand or Ford.
A recent Marist College survey found Gillibrand backed by 43 percent of Democrats to 24 percent for Ford — although 33 percent said they were undecided, providing a clear opening for Ford.
Ford has gotten words of encouragement from State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, but has been rebuked by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Gov. Paterson appointed Gilibrand to the Senate last year after President Obama tapped Hillary Rodham Clinton to his cabinet as secretary of state.