Gillibrand on the short list for US Senator?

The Associated Press is describing North Country congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand as among the top-three contenders for Senator Hillary Clinton’s spot, should Clinton join the Obama administration.

As expectations continue to rise that Hillary Clinton will leave her Senate seat to become Barack Obama’s Secretary of State, a trio of New Yorkers are tight-lipped about their chances to succeed her.

They are representatives Brian Higgins of Buffalo, Kirsten Gillibrand of Hudson, and Nita Lowey of Harrison. If Clinton does leave, Governor Paterson will appoint a successor who will hold herSenate seat until 2010, when a special election would be held.

The New York Times has also joined the speculation. They offered this quote from Rep. Gillibrand:

As Ms. Gillibrand was rushing out of the Capitol, she brushed off a question about whether she would accept the job if offered. “I think that’s highly premature,” she said.

Gillibrand has enjoyed close ties with Clinton. But she lacks the seniority of some of the other picks — and her district is potentially more vulnerable to a Republican challenge if she were to depart.