Who Will Replace Hillary Clinton in The Senate?



Hillary and Congresswoman Gillibrand. (image via nytimes)

Around the web there is much chatter as to who will replace Senator Hillary Clinton in the United States Senate. All coy denials aside, Clinton will be part of President elect Barack Obama's national security entourage come Monday morning, as the Secretary of State designate.

The nominee to replace Clinton will probably be from upstate, as New York already has a Senior Senator -- Brooklyn's Chuck Schumer -- and a Governor -- Harlem's David Patterson -- from the city. Western New York clearly deserves some representation (it's only fair) giving even-money bets to either Congresswoman Gillebrand or "The Riverkeeper" Robert Kennedy, Jr. (who may or may not become head of the EPA). Some of the clutter around the web as to who might replace New York's Junior Senator:

"As a candidate to replace Hillary Clinton when she becomes secretary of state, Representative Kirsten Gillibrand is thought to be an attractive option because she represents an upstate district and would be the only woman to hold an elected statewide post. But the head of the New York chapter of the National Organization of Women said she would prefer a woman with a longer track record of advancing women's issues than Gillibrand, who was comfortably re-elected to her second term. 'I think Kirsten's a great person and a great Congresswoman, but I would prefer at this point to see someone who has sunk her teeth into women's issues and civil rights issues,' said Marcia Pappas." (PolitickerNy)

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Carolyn Maloney - who could become Sen. Maloney if and when Hillary Clinton becomes secretary of state - will talk about their recent books on women's empowerment at Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse Monday night. Journalist Lynn Sherr moderates." (PageSix)

"Several Democrats appear, with varying levels of intensity, to be positioning for the job: Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who's name I'm hearing a lot, although not from people close to Paterson; Buffalo Rep. Brian Higgins; Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. But there's a range of others: Reps. Nita Lowey, Jerry Nadler, Greg Meeks, Anthony Weiner, and Carolyn Maloney get mentioned. So do Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's name also comes up, though her seat might be tough for Democrats to hold if she vacates it." (Politico)