From the Sidelines, Top Contenders for Clinton's Senate Seat Emerge (NYT 1/3)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/nyregion/03contender1.html?ref=nyregion&pagewanted=all

"From the Sidelines, Top Contenders for Clinton's Senate Seat Emerge

Published: January 3, 2009

Handicapping the contenders for Hillary Rodham Clinton's seat in the United States Senate is a perhaps dubious exercise, given that the choice will be made by Gov. David A. Paterson alone and he has largely been keeping his own counsel. But with the focus on Caroline Kennedy, other legitimate contenders have received far less attention. The list of those overlooked includes Representative Brian Higgins of Buffalo; that city's mayor, Byron W. Brown; Representative Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan; and Randi Weingarten, the head of the teachers' union. Atop the list, however, are five politicians with a broad range of governmental experience and — equally important to an appointee who will face two campaigns in three years — a track record of winning elections. — DAVID M. HALBFINGER"

(more categories and biographical details for each at the link)

ANDREW M. CUOMO (Attorney General)

WOULD BRING TO THE JOB Experience and relationships across New York and Washington ... Has made headlines in salient issues: curtailing bonuses at the American International Group, uncovering a student-loan scandal, investigating health insurers ... Would seem to be hard to reject if he asks for the post.

WOULD BRING TO THE TICKET High approval ratings, statewide popularity among Democrats, name recognition unmatched by any rival except Caroline Kennedy ... Appointing him could remove him as a primary threat to Mr. Paterson.
...
USED TO WORK AS Secretary of housing and urban development, 1997-2001.
...


KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND (Representative, 20th District)

WOULD BRING TO THE JOB No need for an upstate listening tour (her district includes the cities of Hudson, Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls) ... Has experience with rural agricultural issues; fought for higher subsidies for dairy farmers and loans to transition to organic farming ... Member of the House Armed Services Committee ... Co-founded the Congressional High Tech Caucus.

WOULD BRING TO THE TICKET Gender balance; broad upstate appeal; fund-raising muscle; political stripes earned in two tough, nationally watched campaigns ... Her stance on the Second Amendment could help Mr. Paterson show ideological openness and balance.
...
USED TO WORK AS Corporate lawyer, first at Davis Polk & Wardwell, later at Boies, Schiller & Flexner.
...

STEVE ISRAEL (Representative, Second District )

WOULD BRING TO THE JOB Reputation as a dogged worker; Newsday called him “rookie of the year” in his first term ... Has a coveted post on the House Appropriations Committee ... Previously served on the House Armed Services Committee ... Has focused on energy policy and national security.

WOULD BRING TO THE TICKET Fund-raising strength and upstate ties developed as a leader of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s recruiting efforts in the Northeast ... Was heavily involved in helping insurgents win House seats in the Southern Tier, the Syracuse area and the Albany and Schenectady region.
...
USED TO WORK AS Town Council member in Huntington, N.Y.; Congressional aide; public relations executive.
...

CAROLYN B. MALONEY (Representative, 14th District )

WOULD BRING TO THE JOB A quarter-century’s experience as a legislator — 10 years on the New York City Council, 16 in the House ... Longstanding focus on women’s issues.

WOULD BRING TO THE TICKET Gender balance ... Known as an energetic and enthusiastic campaigner ... Well liked by her colleagues ... Respected by women’s groups, some of which have already endorsed her.
...
USED TO WORK AS Teacher and school administrator.
...

THOMAS R. SUOZZI (Nassau County Executive)

WOULD BRING TO THE JOB A strong fiscal and managerial record in Nassau, where he led a turnaround in county finances ... As head of a state commission on property tax relief, he has called for a tax cap, a “circuit breaker,” which would freeze taxes when they exceed a certain percentage of income, and consolidation of local school districts.

WOULD BRING TO THE TICKET Appeal to white ethnic (particularly Roman Catholic) voters, a force in western New York and Southern Tier, and proven strength on Long Island ... Cultivated ties to political and interest-group leaders ... Charismatic, if inexperienced on a broad public stage.
...
USED TO WORK AS Mayor of Glen Cove, N.Y., on Long Island, 1993-2002.
...

(editing in parts of the summaries)

I still think such an appointment should be on the merit.