Paterson Fills Hillary's Senate Seat

clipped from news.yahoo.com Gov. David Paterson appointed Democratic U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand on Friday to fill New York's vacant Senate seat, finally settling on a woman from a largely rural, eastern district of the state to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton. "I appreciate the opportunity that you have afforded me and the trust that you have placed in me," she told Paterson. "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." The appointment, which requires no further confirmation, came one day after Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, abruptly withdrew from consideration. Paterson's appointment lasts until 2010, when a special election will be held to fill the final two years of Clinton's term.

This seems to me to be more about David Paterson than anything. New Yorkers outside the city have long complained that NYC dominates statewide electoral politics. He's thrown them a bone and demonstrated that he's the governor of all New York, not just the city.