Amazingly enough, the upstate seems to be leaning towards women to represent them. Unfortunately the upstate Congresswomen are all retirement age and older.

I think Patterson may end up making appointment that won’t really make anyone in the state happy, with the understanding that the person is a caretaker, i.e. not interested in running in 2010, so the NY Democrats can have an open primary for the job.

Nadler has a decent record in the House, but he’s another Jewish guy from the City, and Chuck has that seat. [traditionally, one of New York’s Senators has been a Jewish guy from the City, even, as in the case of Jacob Javits, when they were Republicans]

The problem is that Congresscritters rarely venture out of their district, which means the rest of the state never gets to know them. Open primaries is about the only way to convince politicians to head North on the Hudson, and then West on the Mohawk.

I think Patterson would like to appoint someone from the minority community, but I don’t have any idea who he listens to.

The really bad thing is that Hillary Clinton will probably take the best people on her Senate staff with her to State, so whoever gets the job will be building from zero.

This is why I can’t be a pundit on cable, I keep looking at all the variables instead of seizing on an idea and presenting it as if it is carved in stone.

OT, I spent a pleasant few days in Albany and Buffalo on a concert tour in about 1976. I have mostly positive memories… it was in summer. 🙂

Half of the voters in New York live upstate, so you really need to make a connection to them, and she isn’t. You might be happy with her, Steve, but you don’t live in New York.

I haven’t heard of her being backed by any of the major Democratic office holders, like Louise Slaughter of Rochester, something she should have lined up before “running”.

Upstate is much more conservative than the city, and they don’t especially like surprises.