After a two-month political mixture of drama and guessing games, Governor David Paterson announced his decision in Albany Friday to name a little-known upstate congresswoman to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Clinton.

Surrounded by top Democratic officials and Republican bigwigs like former Senator Alfonse D'Amato, Paterson named Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, seen above, and said she had "great shoes to fill" as the junior Senate seat was once occupied by the former first lady, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Robert F. Kennedy.

"I realize that for many New Yorkers, this is the first time you've heard my name and you don't know much about me. Over these next two years, you will get to know me, but much more importantly, I will get to know you," said Gillibrand, the first upstate politician to serve in the Senate since 1970.

The Hudson Valley Democrat, described by Paterson as "dynamic, articulate," thanked her reported rivals for the Senate seat for their support and said that they had agreed beforehand that the one appointee would serve New York well.

In her acceptance speech, Gillibrand said her priorities included education, agriculture, upstate development and aiding the downstate economy.

“I will look for ways to find common ground between upstate and downstate. There are so many issues where we can come together, whether you’re talking about making sure we preserve our watershed and our clean water, but also preserve our opportunities for economic development," she said. "Where we can reduce gun violence and protect our children and keep guns out of the hands of criminals but also protect our hunter’s rights.”

She also promised to hold town hall meetings across the state, like the public forums she has frequently held in her congressional district.

Gillibrand appeals to the governor for a number of reasons. He likes the fact that she provides upstate representation. It is also to his political advantage to replace a woman with another woman.

The new senator is known as a good fundraiser who will run a strong campaign for re-election. She beat a Republican incumbent in a dominantly Republican area in 2006 and easily won a second term in November. She was also a former financial securities lawyer who once worked for Clinton.

"This choice, you hit the nail on the head. Congratulations," said senior Senator Charles Schumer to Paterson. The senator praised his new colleague as a go-getter, a political fighter with bipartisan appeal and good mother of two with insight into the issues facing the seven million upstate residents.

While many average New Yorkers who spoke with NY1 this morning said they did not know who Gillibrand is, Schumer said that New York will learn to warm up to its new senator, just as they got to know Clinton over the last nine years.

"Just as upstate New York came to know Hillary and came to respect her, I think downstate New York will do the same [with Gillibrand]," said Schumer.

In the middle of Schumer's speech, Paterson received a phone call from President Barack Obama, and the governor let Gillibrand speak briefly with the commander-in-chief.

She shared with Obama her pride at being present at his inauguration, while he said he looked forward to working with her on many issues.

The president also released a statement saying that Gillibrand would "continue Secretary Clinton's distinguished service to the people of New York and to our country," and that she is "a strong voice for transparency and reform in government."

The congresswoman is an advocate for gun rights and a member of the National Rifle Association, which has reportedly outraged a potential primary opponent in the 2010 Senate election.

Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, a longtime gun control advocate, is considering running in the Senate primary against Gillibrand. McCarthy, whose husband was killed and son was wounded by in the 1993 Long Island Rail massacre, says Gillibrand's stance of guns is unacceptable.

"I don't think New York state should have a senator that basically represents the NRA," said McCarthy. "The majority of people in New York state certainly have been trying to do whatever they can to reduce gun violence so I just think it's a very very poor choice, it sends out a very very bad message."

But in her acceptance speech, Gillibrand thanked McCarthy for her support in Congress and promised to sponsor McCarthy's bill for making stronger background checks for criminals attempting to buy guns.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that Gillibrand was a "committed member" of the House, but said he had a "strong disagreement" with her votes "to keep critical data needed to track illegal gun traffickers from law enforcement, ... to tie the hands of the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] and has also voted to protect dealers who sell guns illegally."

Assembly Peter Rivera, the state's longest-serving Hispanic lawmaker, said he was "troubled" by Gillibrand's appointment, saying the new senator has a "hard-line stand on immigration, which borders on xenophobia." He says she opposes amnesty and favors guest worker programs and enforcement of immigration laws by local police.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said he was supportive of Gillibrand, but does not agree with her on the issue of gun control.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Anthony Weiner, United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and reported Senate hopeful and State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued congratulatory statements that praised the new senator.

In the subsequent press conference, Paterson expressed regret that the vetting process for the new senator was so played out explicitly before the press.

“I struggled, I wrestled with this decision. In retrospect, I wish I had not showed all of you the wrestling match," said Paterson. "I think that I may have [shown too much], in an attempt to be as transparent as possible, publicly going through the back-and-forth of my decision.”

Gillibrand would not confirm to NY1 that she was chosen late Thursday, but she did say that she and the governor had been talking.

"I've spoken to the governor throughout the process and it's very cordial," said Gillibrand. "And the governor obviously has an enormous amount of responsibility right now with the economy as difficult as it is, the challenges we have as a state. So I think the process has gone well and a lot of my colleagues who I really admire are all being considered and it's a real privilege and honor to be considered."

The new senator may have many conservative views, but she does seem to be leaning to the political left in other social issues.

Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda said that Gillibrand spoke with him last night and expressed her support for gay marriage. Gillibrand has previously supported civil unions.

Gillibrand will head to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, when she will officially be sworn-in.

Meanwhile, speculation continues as to what exactly derailed Caroline Kennedy's bid for the Senate seat.

Kennedy surprisingly withdrew from consideration late Wednesday night for what she described as personal reasons.

But her announcement set off rumors of a number of issues that had surfaced in background checks, ranging from tax to marital to nanny problems.

Kennedy's spokesman called the speculation mudslinging.

Paterson's office yesterday said the governor knows Kennedy will continue to serve New York, either from inside or outside of government.