The Eye

As part of her ongoing effort to secure Democratic support for her 2010 campaign, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced today she has been endorsed by Democratic party chairs from 52 of the state's 62 counties.

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.