Ford Defies Obama, Confirms Senate Run

New York's incumbent can't communicate, and that could be her downfall

(NEWSER) - Kirsten Gillibrand bears a lot of unfortunate similarities to Martha Coakley, and could soon suffer the same fate. Like Coakley, she assumes she’s in for a cakewalk, with the full weight of her party behind her in a mostly-blue state. And like Coakley, she has “dreadful communication skills,” writes Steve Kornacki at the Daily Beast . “She talks, often for far too long, almost exclusively in political clichés. There is no blood in her veins.” More»

Incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, challenger Harold Ford Jr. out for blood

(NEWSER) - Kirsten Gillibrand isn’t playing nice anymore. The New York Democrat is heeding advisers’ counsel and going for the jugular against Senate primary opponent Harold Ford Jr., who’s been lobbing bombs faster than she can keep up. Until now, Gillibrand’s mostly attacked Ford through proxies, generating little buzz in New York’s tabloid-dominated media scene. But in a recent statement, she blasted Ford as an anti-abortion, anti-gay rights Wall Street pawn, Politico reports. More»

These shaky Dem incumbents could be next to make the GOP's day

(NEWSER) - The decision by Indiana Senator Evan Bayh not to seek reelection has put 10 Democratic seats—and the majority—firmly in reach of Republicans in the upcoming election. Politico looks at 5 most likely to make the job easier for the GOP:

• Arkansas: Blanche Lincoln trailed a likely GOP challenger by an astounding 23 points in a recent poll, and even if she drops out there is no clear replacement.

Which might explain Harold Ford's run

(NEWSER) - Chuck Schumer is making enemies in high places among "his wealthiest and most powerful constituents," writes Chris Smith. These Wall Street honchos have long poured money into Schumer's campaign coffers, but now they think he's not doing enough to protect them from regulation attempts. “Chuck says, ‘I’ve been there to help you,’ ” says one lobbyist. “Well, that’s when we were playing stickball. Now we’re in a cage match and he’s hiding under his desk.” More»

Caught in Upstate-NYC crossfire, senator may revisit hardline

(NEWSER) - Name a policy that rural Upstate New York and New York City agree on, and you've got, well, try finding one first. For everything else, there's a rock and a hard place for newly appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. First it was gun control, which the former upstate representative opposes. Now, reports the New York Times, Gillibrand is in trouble for her hardline on immigration. Her position, says a Bronx Democrat, “borders on xenophobia.” More»