Gillibrand Faces Likely Challenger In McCarthy
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Hours after she was named the state's newest senator, Kirsten Gillibrand is already facing a likely primary challenger next year in Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report. For Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, gun control is not just a political issue. She lost her husband and her son was critically injured in a shooting rampage on a Long Island Rail Road train in 1993.
A crusader for stricter gun laws ever since, McCarthy is now preparing to topple David Paterson's pick for the Senate -- an upstate lawmaker with top marks from the National Rifle Association.
"Oh, I'll do it. Just because I'm quiet and go about doing my work, doesn't mean I don't know how to fight," said McCarthy.
McCarthy says she'll only back down if another, younger Democrat steps forward.
"I have nothing to lose. This is something, as I keep saying, that is personal to me. And so if I get punished, whether through the party or by anybody, that doesn't bother me," she said. "My job is to speak out and talk about gun violence in this country and certainly in my community and certainly in New York State."
McCarthy's own local party chairman thinks Kirsten Gillibrand can avoid a primary challenge by adjusting her stance.
"I think to represent New York, she has to have a broader view," said Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs. "Anybody in that position does. And hopefully she will modify her views on guns and the issue of gun violence and the NRA."
Another potential Gillibrand challenger, Republican Peter King, says he expects the new senator will have a tough time.
"She's going to have trouble within her own party. While if I run, I will have the united Republican Conservative Party behind me," he said.
At her appointment announcement, Gillibrand reached out to one of her fiercest critics.
"I want to recognize Congresswoman McCarthy, who has provided outstanding leadership in fighting against gun violence and keeping our children safe," said Gillibrand. "I pledge to work with her on her signature bill for updating background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals."
That message is doing little to silence McCarthy, who is not wasting any time getting to work on her campaign. On Monday she plans to sit down with her finance staff in Washington to come up with a plan to take on Gillibrand.