Obama Campaign Manager Holds Fundraiser For Gillibrand
February 22, 2010 | By NY 1 News | NY 1 News | Link to article
President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager, David Plouffe, headlined a fundraiser for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this morning.
The $250 per person event was held in Midtown.
"Senator Gillibrand, we believe, has been a great leader for New York," said Plouffe in an exclusive interview with NY1. "We're tackling these tough issues like rebuilding the economy and energy and health care that are strengthening us for the long term and she's been a real leader. So she is someone the president obviously supports and we'll do all we can to make sure she returns to the Senate."
The senator also stresses her good relationship with the White House.
"We have been working together not only on economic issues like the middle-class tax cut and the tax cut for small businesses and more lending for small businesses across the state, but we are also working on 9/11 health, repealing 'Don't ask, don't tell,'" said Gillibrand. "I work well with the administration and am very grateful for the president's support."
Gillibrand might face former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. for the Senate seat. Ford said he would make a decision about his candidacy by the end of the month.
Ford has worked to cast himself as an outsider in this possible race, attacking Gillibrand as a pawn for Washington power brokers. He has also highlighted that before Gillibrand took public officer she worked as a private attorney, where she represented a tobacco company.
"Welcome to New York, Mr. Plouffe. The unelected tobacco apologist finally brought something back to New York from Washington," said Ford spokesperson Tammy Sun in a statement this morning. "Unfortunately, it's only a fundraiser for herself. . . It's no surprise that Washington's party bosses are here to defend her. She's their Senator, not ours."
Gillibrand is expected to pick up endorsements from some labor parties today.
