it's never too early to talk about 2016

Gillibrand Not Worried About Choosing Between Cuomo and Clinton in 2016 (But Maybe She Should Be)

NEW YORK - JANUARY 25: Senator-designate Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton look to each other during a lunch meeting with New York Gov. David A. Paterson and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on January 25, 2009 in New York City. Gov. Paterson appointed Gillibrand to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Clinton on January 23 in Albany, New York. Gillibrand is expected to be sworn in this week to serve in the U.S. Senate. (Photo by Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images)
Gillz and Hillz. Photo: Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently declared herself one of many people who hope Hillary Clinton gives a presidential run another go in 2016. And last night in an interview on NY1, she reiterated that she thinks Clinton is “so well poised in my view to really be such an amazingly strong candidate for president in 2016.” But what about the wildly popular and successful Andrew Cuomo, who is presumed to be interested in a 2016 run? Gillibrand seemed to think (hope?) that she won’t have to choose between her mentor and her governor:

Well, Governor Cuomo is doing an outstanding job as our governor, and I have extraordinary respect for him, and he’s doing a wonderful job, but I know he’s 100 percent focused on being governor,” she answered.

Pressed again on whether she thinks Mr. Cuomo won’t run, she repeated, “Well, he’s certainly talented enough, but I know with everything he’s said to date, he’s really just focused on being the best governor he can be.”

Cuomo’s first term ends on December 31, 2014, a full year before the start of the 2016 primaries.

Gillibrand on Cuomo vs. Clinton in 2016