New York Governor David Paterson has picked Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

She’s a member of the Blue Dog caucus in the house (**blarf**), probably because she is in a Republican leaning district, but we have already seen some evidence of moderation, as she recently came out^* for marriage equality and the repeal of DOMA and DADT, so she is making nice with the gay community.

It appears that she has thrown a few elbows, and because of this she is not particularly popular with other members of her delegation.

Additionally, even if she moderates some of her views, I think that the fact that she has a 100% rating from the NRA, and that will antagonize many of the New York state Democrats, particularly Carolyn McCarthy, who is already threatening an aggressive primary challenge.

This is not surprising. Rep. McCarthy takes gun control very personally, as her husband was murdered, and her son gravely injured by the Long Island Rail Road killing spree of Colin Ferguson.

In any case, let’s see how she does over the next year.

^*Pun not intended.