The Political Insider

Carolyn Maloney will run for senate in 2010 according to sources that are familiar with her plans. Maloney, who serves as a congresswoman from the New York City area, has long been thought to be a potential anti-Gillibrand if Steve Israel declined to run, which he did. Carolyn Maloney is defying the powerful Obama machine and the wishes of the senior senator from New York, Chuck Schumer. Recent polling shows Maloney leading up-stater incumbent Gillibrand by four points according to the Quinnipiac University poll. Obviously, this is a risky move for Maloney, who will have to forgo running for re-election to congress. Maloney’s stature has been rising as she is reaching a higher level of seniority, this is a risk that Peter King and Carolyn McCarthy are not going to take. Gillibrand has about 2.2 million on hand and Carolyn Maloney has about 1.3 million on hand. The cash advantage for Gillibrand is likely to continue due to her national name recognition and the backing that she has from most of the establishment. One thing that would be crucial in order for Maloney to prove herself viable, would be the endorsement of the downstate congress members. It seems safe to say that democrats have an advantage in the general, due to voter registration and New York trending democratic traditionally. This race could get extremely negative and weaken the eventually victor of the primary, which could be the chief advantage that the republican candidate will have.