City Largely Unfamiliar With New Senator
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From Midtown to the East Side, NY1 interviewed many people this morning about whether they knew who Representative Kirsten Gillibrand is, and many did not know.
"I don't know who that is. I have to google her," said one local.
On the Upper East Side, some Gillibrand supporters were found who trusted Governor David Paterson's choice.
"Just hope he makes the right choice for our sake," said one local.
"She's great, will be a wonderful senator," said another.
Yet they knew little about Gillibrand.
"As long as she can do the job, she's good to go," said a local.
The Senate seat Gillibrand has been tapped to fill is seen by many as a post that should go to someone better-known.
The Hudson Valley Democrat lacks name recognition in the city, but one psychologist said he owns a house in upstate Columbia County, in the district where Gillibrand won re-election in November by a landslide.
"I would have preferred Caroline Kennedy, but Gillibrand is very sharp, knows her stuff," he said.
The psychologist also said Gillibrand is liberal in at least one area.
"Very much into the arts. She supports this non-profit up there, called Time and Space Limited, is a big backer of that, which is why my wife voted for her," he said.
Gillibrand is fiscally conservative and voted against the Wall Street bailout. She opposes gun control and has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
Such positions please some but concern others.
"Problematic, I would think problematic," said a local. "The Senate seat from the state of New York is very, very important, and actually no one knows who she is."
New York City will soon find out.