NARAL to Endorse Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for NY Senate

category: News

Published May 14, 2009 @ 05:19PM PT

This just in from Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily Politics:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will pick up the endorsement Friday of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, a leading abortion-rights group that in the past has backed all of the senator's rumored Democratic challengers, the DN's David Saltonstall reports.

"We see a champion in Kirsten Gillibrand," NARAL president Kelli Conlin told the DN. "We want to back that champion and be a part of her victory."
Gillibrand, who was appointed by Gov. David Paterson in January to fill Hillary Clinton's old U.S. Senate seat, doesn't have to run for re-election until next year.

But a number of Democrats - among them Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Steve Israel, and Carolyn McCarthy and Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer - have all signaled they are mulling a primary against the upstate Gillibrand, whose congressional record has often leaned to the right (although not, it should be noted, when it comes to abortion rights).

Enter NARAL, who, like Sen. Chuck Schumer, is hoping that an early announcement of support Gillibrand - coupled with her prodigious fundraising - will scare the other Democrats away.

"Is this somewhat motivated by our desire to not see a bloodbath of a primary in advance of a general election?" Conlin said. "Absolutely. But it is backed up by solid record."

Conlin said this endorsement is the earliest NARAL has ever chosen sides in a race.

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Comments (3)

Brava to Kelli Conlin and NY NARAL for doing the right thing by Senator Gillibrand. Would that the national organization showed such good judgement and courage! Kirsten Gillibrand has not only been a staunch and consistent pro-choice advocate endorsed by Planned Parenthood and EMILY'S List, as well as NARAL, in the Senate she's become a champion of families and especially of single Moms. It's great to have a progressive young feminist, (and a young Mom, to boot!) in the US Senate.

Posted by Penny Quince on 05/15/2009 @ 05:02AM PT
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"We see a champion in Kirsten Gillibrand," NARAL president Kelli Conlin told the DN. "We want to back that champion and be a part of her victory."

Lots of us feel that way, even those of us who also have supported and admired others whose names are being advanced as primary challengers. Let us hope that those others re-think their interest in challenging Gillibrand which many of us understand to be ego politics prodded by consultants-seeking-business. We need to coalesce around Senator Gillibrand, help her be the best advocate for New York that she can be, and be sure that she wallops any Republican foolish enough to go up against a unified Democratic party.

Posted by Ricki Lieberman on 05/15/2009 @ 09:16AM PT
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Kirsten Gillibrand is an excellent choice for NARAL's endorsement. She is a consistent and dedicated voice for women and families, and champions health care at every opportunity. With her solid progressive record, and strong Senate start, she has the potential to be one of the nation's strongest advocates on this issue and many other important concerns.

Posted by Frances Fusco on 05/15/2009 @ 06:42PM PT
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Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. In August 2008, Nedeau was selected to be the Editor of the WomensRights.Change.Org where she facilitates daily discussion about the feminist movement. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.