US SEN. Kirsten Gilli brand is nervously telling friends that Gov. Paterson’s sharp drop in popularity may lead to her defeat in next year’s all-but-certain Democratic primary.
Party insiders who have had recent contact with Gillibrand, a former Albany-area congresswoman who has had to backtrack on her past pro-gun and anti-illegal-immigration positions since being named to her post by Paterson, said she appeared nervous, frightened and even shell-shocked over the growing opposition to her.
“She’s looking more and more like the proverbial deer in the headlights as she tries to convince activists to support her,” said one of those she’s courted. “She’s very nervous and scared.”
Gillibrand, who was picked to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton last month, had hoped backing from the governor and Sen. Charles Schumer would help her overcome opposition from liberal New York City-area Democrats and block a possible primary challenge from Reps. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan or Carolyn McCarthy of Nassau County, both of whom are seriously considering entering the race.
But Paterson is now in serious political trouble, while Schumer has conspicuously refused to say he would back Gillibrand in a primary.
A Quinnipiac University poll last week showed McCarthy easily defeating Gillibrand among Democratic voters. The poll found Paterson with his lowest approval rating ever.
Party activists are expected to pay close attention to another poll on Paterson’s popularity, from Siena College, set to be released tomorrow.
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Paterson administration insiders are counting the days to the departure of William Cunningham, the governor’s hapless secretary and top administrator, whose position was offered to – and rejected by – former secretary Charles O’Byrne on Saturday.
“The governor is saying it’s just a matter of days before Cunningham goes,” one insider said.
Cunningham, who has strong ties to Paterson’s father, Basil, as well as Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, is being blamed by Paterson for the chaos that has engulfed his administration since O’Byrne’s departure amid a tax-evasion scandal in October.
Many on the inside believe that longtime Democratic activist and Westchester County administrator Larry Schwartz, who was recently named as Paterson’s deputy secretary, will take over for Cunningham.