Marc Mukasey, the son of Bush administration Attorney General Michael Mukasey, is mulling mounting a challenge to Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, sources tell The Post.
But the younger Mukasey, a partner at Rudy Giuliani’s law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, would run only if the former mayor opts out of the race, the sources said.
“He could beat [Gillibrand],” a source said of Mukasey. “He has a known name, and he could get Republicans nationally behind him. This has national appeal — because we could really use that vote right now.”
Marc Mukasey did not respond to a request for comment.
State Republican leaders have urged Giuliani, who has opted against a gubernatorial run, to go for the Senate, and he has told friends and insiders that he’s considering it, sources said. But he has also indicated that he’s leaning against it.
Sources say Mukasey’s name has come up before — as a possible candidate for attorney general, a seat widely expected to be open thanks to Andrew Cuomo’s expected gubernatorial run.
Instead, Mukasey is eyeing Gillibrand, who was appointed to finish out Hillary Rodham Clinton’s term and is struggling in the polls.
Mukasey, who could be seen as a like-minded candidate to Giuliani, would also likely have access to some of the political and financial contacts of his boss.
A former federal prosecutor, Mukasey has represented a string of high-profile people, including an official with Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme-running company and Democratic fund-raiser Hassan Namazee.
Republicans see Gillibrand as a prime target, given that her standing in the polls remains weak a full year since Gov. Paterson appointed her in a move that angered other tenured Dems.
Among other potential GOP challengers are ex-Long Island legislator Bruce Blakeman, Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld and ex-State Sen. Michael Balboni, who is close to disgraced ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.