SYRACUSE -- In Syracuse on Tuesday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand brushed off the politics and said she was focused on improving the economy and state education system.
Gillibrand said she would let a potential primary with former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. take care of itself saying shed let a potential primary take care of itself but she seemed to take a shot at Ford when discussing her own qualifications.
"The most important thing is - I know New Yorkers because I've lived here my whole life. I've traveled around the state all year," said Gillibrand. "I will make sure every voter knows who I am, what my values are, what I've done as a senator."
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner met with Harold Ford Jr. a few weeks ago and with Senator Gillibrand today. Miner was glad to hear that Gillibrand supported "Say Yes to Education", a program that provides college tuition for city school students, but said she wasn't ready to endorse anyone yet.
"Clearly Harold Ford has influence and cared enough about Syracuse to come to Syracuse and so I sat down and had lunch with him and talked with him," said Gillibrand. "The Senator came here today and I also talked with her about a number of things."
Syracuse's mayor may be undecided but Representative Dan Maffei has made up his mind. He unequivocally endorsed Gillibrand on Tuesday.
"There's work horses and show horses and just because we don't necessarily see Senator Gillibrand in the headlines, that doesn't mean she isn't doing a lot of work for her native Upstate New York behind the scenes and so we really need an Upstate New Yorker - I believe - in that position," said Maffei.
Gillibrand said the economy is the number one issue on voters minds and that Washington must find real solutions for problems.
Harold Ford Jr. has said he will decide by the end of this month if he will challenge Gillibrand in a primary this fall.
