Gillibrand watch

Kirsten Gillibrand’s office is being flooded with press inquiries from around the world, as Governor David Paterson closes in on his pick to replace Hillary Clinton.

The media has staked out her home in Washington DC. She’s still a dark-horse candidate, but she’s definitely gained momentum the last couple of weeks.

Here’s some handicapping:

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is smart, part of a political dynasty, a strong candidate who could probably hold the seat in 2010. Paterson would love to cement him as an ally. Downside: He’s a white guy, with little upstage mojo, and picking his replacement as AG could be tricky at a time when Wall Street is imploding.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney is a woman, well-connected in Manhattan, with a hair more upstate traction than Cuomo. (She summers in the Adirondacks.) Her Manhattan political brand was eclipsed by Caroline Kennedy, but now that hurdle is out of the way. Downside: No statewide name recognition. An uncertain candidate to hold the seat in 2010.

Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand is a woman, with strong Democratic Party ties both in Albany and New York City. (She also hails from a Democratic dynasty, though less high-profile than Kennedy or Cuomo.) She’s proved that she can win tough races upstate. Her political sensibilities may be closest of any of the candidates to those of Hillary Clinton. Downside: It’s hard to see how Democrats hold Gillibrand’s congressional seat if she moves up the ladder.

Developing…