Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand started her statewide “listening tour” Saturday in the urban heart of Harlem – far from the upstate farmlands she represented as a congresswoman.
A day after Gov. David Paterson named the centrist Democrat to fill Hillary Rodham Clinton’s empty Senate seat, Gillibrand began introducing herself to her new downstate constituents by appearing at a weekly rally held by the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Sharpton introduced her to the crowd by making note of their political differences; Among other things, Gillibrand has a record of opposing gun control. Her voting record in Congress earned her a 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association.
But the centrist Democrat, showing political aplomb, looked for common ground and quickly found it: disgust with Wall Street and the sinking economy.
“It’s a very serious and sad time,” she told the audience. “Every time you hear about what’s happening to these financial institutions, the first thing you’re reading is the number of layoffs. And the layoffs are the people from this community.
She told the crowd that her “No. 1 issue” is the economy, and that she’ll tackle it using her 15 years’ experience as a securities lawyer on Wall Street.
When pressed on guns, Gillibrand, who comes from a family of hunters, also expressed flexibility. She said she was willing to meet with anti-violence groups and listen to what they had to say.
When asked whether there might be NRA positions on gun ownership that contradict the gun-control needs of an inner-city community like Harlem, she said, “There might well be,” adding, “I’ll look into it.”
Gillibrand left with a standing ovation.
Sharpton acknowledged he didn’t know her well, but said “I’d rather someone I didn’t know that reached out than somebody that I do know that takes us for granted.
“I trust the governor, the governor trusts her. Let’s get it on.”
A two-term congresswoman, Gillibrand was to be sworn in to the Senate on Sunday. A special election will be held for her Senate seat in 2010.