Criticizing President Obama's intervention into the New York governor's race, former Republican Gov. George E. Pataki said that "everyone's decision to run for office is a very personal decision."

"You have to run because not just you think you can win the race but because you have the ideas and the vision," he said on a conference call hosted Monday by the Republican National Committee. "That's what the decision should be based on, not on poll numbers."

Pataki was talking about New York Gov. David A. Paterson, whom White House aides reportedly urged to step aside last week, but he could have just as easily been talking about himself.

He did not deny Monday that he is mulling the possibility of getting back into politics, most likely a Senate race vs. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.

Former Republican Rep. Rick Lazio is ready to launch his campaign for New York governor, after conducting months of outreach and fundraising around the state. Barney Keller, an adviser to Lazio, confirms that an announcement event in Albany is in the works.

Keller also said that Lazio put in a call today to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also considering a gubernatorial campaign, to let him know he was making the announcement.

Lazio served eight years in the House before making a late run for the U.S. Senate in 2000, losing soundly to Hillary Rodham Clinton after Giuliani backed out of the race. He appears less inclined to wait around for Giuliani this time around.

Republican Rep. Peter T. King’s decision to eschew next year’s Senate special election in New York has dealt a serious — though not unexpected — blow to the GOP’s hopes of challenging appointed Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand.

The New York Daily News reported Monday that King would instead seek a 10th term in the 3rd District on Long Island. King said he reached his decision “after months of deliberation and conversations with family members and friends and advisers,” the newspaper reported.

He had, however, indicated in late June that he was likely to opt out of the Senate race.

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., may be on recess, but she's still limiting her talking points to health care -- and not her plans for a Senate run.

Maloney was back in Washington Thursday to talk up the Democrats' health care overhaul proposals in light of a new Joint Economic Committee study showing that, under the current system, women suffer disproportionately from a lack of adequate health insurance coverage -- a subject that would no doubt play well in the liberal constituencies that make up many of New York's Democratic primary voters. But she remained mum when asked when she would launch her expected primary challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed in January to the Senate seat to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"Let's just focus on helping pass this important bill," Maloney said at a Capitol news conference about the JEC study. Asked if she intended to wait until the health care overhaul battle was complete before making a move, the nine-term congresswoman again begged off, saying only that the health care overhaul -- "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" -- remains her focus.

The timing of New York Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney's announcement about her intentions to run for Senate in 2010 has become something of a moving target, but people close to her campaign are now indicating that it could come in early August.

And Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, a close ally of the Democratic congresswoman who represents a portion of her Upper East Side Manhattan district, said, "Speaking to folks in the Maloney camp, she's focused right now on her congressional duties." But, he added, he thinks she is "planning to make an announcement once the House is in recess in early August."

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's latest attempt to shore up support from New York's liberal Democratic base in advance of the 2010 election came Monday when Gillibrand touted an upcoming Armed Services hearing probing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women. By repealing this policy, we will increase America's strength - both militarily and morally."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the latest member of the Democratic Party establishment to get behind appointed New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's 2010 campaign.

Reid, a Nevada Democrat, joined a growing list of Gillibrand backers, including former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who announced his support on Thursday.

Gillibrand has been hustling to line up support from congressional colleagues and Democratic support groups in advance of an expected primary challenge by nine-term Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney. Aides to Maloney have said that she will announce in late July that she is a candidate for the 2010 special election.

Howard Dean (Getty Images/Brendan Smialowski)

In what could have been mistaken for the pilot episode of the "Howard and Kirsten" show, Dean led a round of questioning, talk-show style, probing Gillibrand's stances on a host of hot-button progressive issues such as gay marriage, the Employee Free Choice Act and a public option for health care insurance. Having apparently passed Dean's progressive litmus test, he announced at the end of the seven-minute video that he was endorsing her for election in 2010.

"Today she's satisified me that she knows how to use that [Democratic] majority in order to get things done so I am pleased to endorse Kirsten Gillibrand for the United States Senate," Dean said.

It didn't match her first quarter fundraising haul, but the $1.5 million New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand raised over the past three months isn't too shabby.

The New York Daily News is reporting that likely primary rival Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney raised $577,000 during the second quarter and had $1.7 million cash on hand as of June 30.

New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday picked up the endorsement of the feminist group Planned Parenthood's political arm -- the latest indication that there is no summertime lull for the appointed senator as she prepares for her 2010 election contest, and the possibility of a serious Democratic primary challenge by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney.

Maloney, who is in her ninth House term representing a New York City district, is one of a number of prominent Democrats who sharply opposed the January decision by Gov. David A. Paterson to pick Gillibrand to succeed Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

George Pataki: Phantom candidate? (Getty)

Albany's WNYT station reported on Monday that Pataki, is "mulling over requests by Republicans to run against" Gillibrand. The station referred to an AP story from over the weekend that noted the former governor, who served three terms between 1995 and 2006, had been approached by Republicans about running. Indeed, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been open about wanting Pataki to run, first meeting with him back in February, but Pataki, himself, has not made any moves to mount a campaign.

And several Republican and New York-based sources CQ has spoken to believe it is unlikely that Pataki will, in the end, decide to challenge the incumbent, who was appointed in January to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton.

To her supporters, Gillibrand's campaign insists that meeting its goal of raising $100,000 before the quarterly reporting deadline on June 30 "is essential to keep Gov. Pataki out of the race." But it may well take a lot less to keep Pataki from running.

The list of counties shows Gillibrand has garnered support from party leaders in wide swaths of the state -- all but four county chairs in Western and Northern New York are on board, as well as New York City suburbs such as Westchester and Rockland counties and Long Island's Nassau County (home, incidentally, to one of Gillibrand's fiercest critics, Democratic Rep. Carolyn McCarthy).

Gillibrand's Achilles heel continues to be New York City, ground zero for the initial opposition to Gillibrand's Senate appointment in January and home of likely primary opponent Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Gillibrand has made strides in winning over several important downstate constituencies since replacing Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was named secretary of State. But the city's five county chairs are absent from Gillibrand's endorsement list.

However, Patrick Jenkins, an aide with the Bronx County Democrats, told CQ his county chair's lack of endorsement was not a reflection on her job thus far as senator.

Another liberal group came out in support of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's 2010 Senate bid on Tuesday, though this one could cut both ways with voters.

The Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now Political Action Committee, also known as ACORN, endorsed Gillibrand for New York Senate, calling her "a leader who will always fight for those who have been pushed to the brink in this economic crisis."

ACORN, which fights for policies that benefit low-income and working class people, has been dogged by controversy for its voter registration tactics in the 2008 campaign. But that hasn't scared away Democrats, who, like Gillibrand, still seek out its support and organizing clout.

Teachers' union head Richard Iannuzzi praised Gillibrand's "sterling record."

Gillibrand on Monday landed the support of the New York State United Teachers union, an influential force in New York and particularly downstate politics, which will add heft and organizing ability to Gillibrand's 2010 campaign as she prepares for what is likely to be a contested primary and general election.

In a statement, NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi said Gillibrand "has a sterling track record of commitment to strengthening education and health care, and will be the leader we need to ensure New York students have access to quality public education from pre-school through college."

Labor activist Jonathan Tasini announced Thursday that he is running for Kirsten Gillibrand's U.S. Senate seat in 2010.

"I believe New York voters deserve a choice," Tasini wrote on his Web site. "We live in a democracy, and elections should be about addressing the issues, not about party insiders 'clearing the field' for a favored candidate," a not-so-veiled-reference to President Obama's phone call to Rep. Steve Israel, asking him not to challenge Gillibrand.

Tasini's challenge is unlikely to attract as much concern from national Democratic leaders. The past president of the National Writers Union (United Auto Workers Local 1981), Tasini mustered just 16 percent of the vote in a primary challenge to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2006.

New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney previewed some attack lines for her prospective primary challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a pre-recorded interview airing on local New York City television Thursday night. The station posted a clip of the interview on its Web site.

Characterizing Gillibrand as more interested in politics than legislating, Maloney told NY1, "I think that she's working hard, but what are the accomplishments?"

"Some people work hard to get elected, some people work hard to do a job, to help people," she added.

Edward Koch (Getty)

Wednesday the endorser was former New York City Mayor Ed Koch (1978-89), a popular figure downstate. Koch, like Gillibrand, built a record as a centrist Democrat, even going so far as to endorse several Republican statewide candidates, as well as Republican President George W. Bush in 2004. Koch endorsed Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and then Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential race.

Of Gillibrand, Koch said in a statement that he was impressed with her "ability to understand the concerns of all New York families and to form a legislative agenda to address those concerns."

Reps. Nydia M. Velazquez and Edolphus Towns endorsed appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's bid for the Democratic Party's 2010 Senate nomination in New York, narrowing the field of potential endorsements for a possible rival.

In particular, Velazquez's endorsement is important because Gillibrand has been criticized by Latino officials for her voting record on immigration issues when she represented a swing district in upstate New York in the House of Representatives.

Velazquez is the only Hispanic woman ever to chair a full committee in the House. Towns, who was first elected in 1982, represents a black-majority district in Brooklyn.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is continuing to pile up endorsements for her 2010 campaign, and the latest -- from Rev. Al Sharpton and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks -- show she is consolidating support in New York City circles, despite initial skepticism of her there.

Sharpton, the colorful civil rights leader who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, said in a statement that he "was impressed that the day after being selected to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, [Gillibrand] came down to the House of Justice in Harlem to hear the real concerns of the voiceless."

"I am proud to endorse her today because I believe she will be a strong, passionate advocate for children and families," he said.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy will not challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary. McCarthy, a thorn in Gillibrand's side of late, had said she would take on the newly appointed senator in 2010 if no one else did.

But McCarthy has reversed course, citing personal issues.

"I'm not running," she said Thursday afternoon.

That further clears the field for Gillibrand, who has had difficulty coalescing her delegation around her bid. Some other New York lawmakers were rubbed the wrong way by her rapid ascent to the Senate, ordained by Gov. David A. Paterson when Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton became secretary of State earlier this year.

Peter King (Getty)

"I have no problem with this," he said of the appointment Wednesday night on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. "We as Republicans should hold onto that seat, if we don't it's our fault." McHugh, a nine-term incumbent, represents New York's 23rd District. His appointment precipitates a special election, and there is a chance Democrats can flip the seat, given President Obama's win in the district in the 2008 presidential race.

"I don't think we should be sitting around whining and saying Rahm Emanuel outsmarted us or President Obama outsmarted us," King added. "We should get good candidates, put them up there, and run."

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney plans to announce a primary challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on her Web site Thursday morning, according to two sources including a member of the delegation.

Maloney disputed that characterization in a brief hallway interview.

"Where did you get that from?" she asked. "It's not true."

Regardless of the timing or venue, several members of the New York delegation, including Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Anthony D. Weiner, said Maloney has told them she will run. She has also told political allies in her "silk stocking" district on Manhattan's Upper East Side that she is preparing a bid.

Peter King(Getty)

First flagged by Politicker New York, the grainy YouTube video features the nine-term congressman touting his upcoming fundraiser in front of Mulcahy's Pub and Music Hall, a sign advertising $3 SoCo and Lime and Jagermeister shots prominently featured in the background. The noise from passing cars drowns out much of what the Long Island Republican is saying.

In the portion that is audible, King offers up some red meat for the conservative base. "To get my message out to the people for next year's election, I need financial help," he says. "I can't count on Newsday, in fact, Newsday is the enemy. The liberal media is working against me."

Schumer and Gillibrand last January when she was named to replace Hillary Clinton. (Getty)

"I think she's going to win, and I don't think she's going to end up having a primary," Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said of Gillibrand, who is seeking her first full term in 2010.

Schumer said Gillibrand, appointed in January by Gov. David A. Paterson appointed replace now-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, was "a very capable person," who was "performing well in the Senate and earning "the respect and affection of her colleagues."

Veteran Rep. Jose Serrano said Wednesday that he is considering a 2010 primary run against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, even as other possible contenders have dropped out in recent days.

"If Rahm Emanuel is making calls, he has a few more to make," Serrano said of the White House chief of staff.

Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., announced Friday that he would not run for the seat after President Obama lobbied him to stay out.

Trying to shore up her support on the left, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today announced an endorsement from the New York State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for her 2010 Senate bid.

"Senator Gillibrand is a champion for New York's working people," said union President James Conigliaro. "She is a proud supporter of the Employee free Choice Act, universal health care, and fair trade agreements that protect American jobs."

It is the Democrat's first labor endorsement and it comes 16 months before the primary election. But the nod from the 35,000-strong machinists' state branch, alone, is unlikely to scare off many of Gillibrand's prospective primary opponents. Several New York political strategists said the union has only limited pull in state politics.