Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Ford Keeps Attacking Gillibrand, Seeks Support From Party Boss
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 18, 2010
Modified Jan 18, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 18, 2010
Modified Jan 18, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Just one week after a bizarre Q and A in which he revealed he has only been to Staten Island by helicopter and has only been a full-time New York resident for a year, former Tennessee congressman and likely Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. sat down with the Daily News — and refused to talk about the issues. In an interview "granted under the condition that the questions be limited to his rationale for running, and not issues," Ford blasted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand as "weak in many places across the city and the state."
Though his campaign still isn't official, Ford told the paper he's out meeting with voters — who he described as "the most important strategists." But he's also scheduled to meet with Brooklyn Democratic party boss and Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-Bushwick), an influential powerbroker throughout the state. Though Ford has come under fire from Democratic brass, with Lopez's support the former Tennessee lawmaker might receive enough backing at the party's spring nominating convention that he "could avoid the costly and time-consuming process of circulating nominating petitions to get on the primary ballot," the Post reports. Meanwhile, Rep. Charles Rangel told the Observer he will back Gillibrand.
Ford won't be Gillibrand's only challenger. Long Island politician Bruce Blakeman — a man best known for his talking dog — says he'll run for Senator as a Republican. Blakeman is a former presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature and Port Authority commissioner who briefly ran for Mayor as a Republican before Mayor Bloomberg announced that he would pursue a third term. "I don't know who I will be running against in November. One is a Congressman from Tennessee. The other is the Senator who votes like she's from Nebraska," said Blakeman, who's wife Nancy Shevell is reportedly dating Paul McCartney.
Tagged
Bruce Blakeman
convention
Democratic party
endorsement
harold ford jr.
kirsten gillibrand
Politics
senate
vito lopez
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .