Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been in the news a lot the past few years, and in a nation with apparently rising anti-incumbent sentiment, that may be a bad thing. But it’s unclear who the Republicans can get to run against him. One name that has popped up is that of CNBC analyst Larry Kudlow.
Despite whatever anti-incumbent sentiment there may be, few seem to think the well-funded Schumer is vulnerable, and he is expected to easily regain his seat for a third term.
Prospects aren’t as certain for Kirsten Gillebrand (D-NY), who is also running to fill out the term of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY), which is due for its regularly-scheduled voter referendum in 2012.
At any rate, the Washington Times reports that Kudlow is seriously considering a run. A “Draft Kudlow” organization is actively working to get a positive response from him. WT quoted Kudlow saying, “I’m very honored to be considered, and I’m going to give all this careful attention. I do believe that retiring Sen. Schumer would be a noble cause.”
Both CQ Politics and The Cook Political Report see Schumer’s seat as safe; CQ has Gillibrand’s rated safe and Cook has it as a likely Democratic hold.
RBR-TVBR observation: Kudlow would have to really want to do this, since it will force him to give up his day job. A colleague across the hall at MSNBC, Chris Matthews, heard sirens calling him to the Senate from the great state of Pennsylvania, but at the end of the day he opted to forgo the campaign trail and remain in his nice warm studio.
