New York’s junior US senator, upstate Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, hasn’t been able to clear 50 percent in the polls since she replaced Hillary Clinton more than two years ago.
Could the Republicans pick up her seat next year?
Well, The Post’s Fred Dicker reports that former state comptroller candidate Harry Wilson is considering a run.
What an excellent idea.
An investor and veteran of President Obama’s Auto Industry Task Force, Wilson put together a strong campaign last year — becoming the sole standout on one of the sorriest statewide slates ever.
Freighted by the cantankerously hapless Carl Paladino at the top of the GOP ticket, and targeted by public-employee unions terrified at the prospect of losing one of their most effective water-carriers — the incumbent comptroller, Tom DiNapoli — Wilson still almost won.
Gillibrand, meanwhile, remains something of a cipher to voters: A recent Marist poll found only 39 percent committed to voting for her.
True, Sen. Chuck Schumer is in her corner — and that will count for a lot.
On the other hand, Republicans picked up six US House seats in New York in 2010 — the party’s biggest single-state haul.
And Republican Bob Turner stepped from the shadows two months ago to win the House seat formerly held by Twitter perv Anthony Weiner.
Whether state Republican Party chairman Ed Cox can maintain the momentum for another year is an open question.
And Wilson is being coy about a race — as well he should be, at this stage.
Still, there’s an opportunity here to strengthen the GOP in a lopsidedly Democratic state while removing a second-rater from the Senate.
Don’t blow it, Chairman Cox.