It seems that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand does not know how to make friends or influence people, and her political career may suffer as a result. Sources say that since being appointed to Hillary Clinton’s old seat in January 2009 Gillibrand has failed to connect with voters and colleagues. Her lack of charisma, which makes her vulnerable to potential opponents, may be part of the reason her supporters have tried to scare Congressman Harold Ford Jr. out of the race.
"Over the next two years you will get to know me," Gillibrand told voters when she was appointed. But since then it’s been a whole lot of blah. Though she’s hardworking—she helped secure a Senate hearing on the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and lent a hand in getting temporary protected status for Haitians in the US after last week's earthquake—the NY Post says she’s failed to capture the hearts and minds of New Yorkers. "This state has a strong tradition of electing fabulous people, and I think we deserve a senator in that mold," said Maureen White, a one-time chief fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and a Ford supporter. "I don't see any incipient signs of that in Kirsten." At last count, Gillibrand was 19 points ahead in the polls.
Among her peers, she’s not too well-liked either. Gillibrand is a notorious a talker—her wordy introduction at a Senate hearing of Sonia Sotomayor was cut short by a fellow senator. Then again, Harold Ford Jr. may not be much better in that department.
