Eye on 2010

Meeks, a six-term member from Queens, said in a statement that he endorsed Gillibrand because "she's been putting together an aggressive legislative agenda that fights for my constituents - from affordable health care to quality after-school programs and community safety initiatives."

The backing of the two men, who are African-American, will help expand Gillibrand's ties with a key constituency among the state's Democrats -- and one that Gillibrand did not have much contact with during just over one term in the House. And they underscore just how much outreach Gillibrand has been doing to gather support from various Democratic stakeholders as she seeks to ward off a primary challenge.

Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate in January to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was named secretary of State. She previously represented a largely suburban and rural, Republican-leaning district in upstate New York. Her appointment prompted questions from downstate Democrats, who felt she her moderate House record was inconsistent with their priorities.

But Gillibrand has been working feverishly to garner support of the one-time doubters and the Sharpton and Meeks endorsements show she is moving full-speed ahead, despite overtures by Manhattan-based Rep. Carolyn Maloney to mount a primary challenge. She still, however, has more work to do among her downstate colleagues in the House, most of whom remain on the sidelines in the race.