The Eye

Gillibrand, who came out in favor of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell earlier this year when Gov. David A. Paterson appointed her to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton, is working hard to woo the gay community as a part of her strategy for staving off a primary challenge.

Gillbrand is considered vulnerable to a challenge from the left because downstate and liberal Democrats view her record in the House - where she represented a conservative-leaning, Upstate district - as out of sync with most New York Democrats.

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., had been expected to announce plans to mount a primary challenge early this week, but - according to published reports - that announcement has been delayed..

Although she is not a member of the Armed Services Committee, this isn't Gillibrand's first attempt to take a swipe at the military's policy on gays since joining the Senate.

Earlier this month, Gillibrand backed away from a plans to offer an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill that would have placed a moratorium on enforcement of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Spokeswoman Bethany Lesser said Gillibrand backed away from the proposal after it became apparent that the amendment would not garner the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate.

Gillibrand's stance on gay right's issues is noteworthy, as it positions her to the left Clinton and of the state's senior senator, Charles E. Schumer on the issue of same-sex marriage.

In January, Empire State Pride Agenda, a major New York Gay rights group, endorsed Paterson's plan to appoint Gillbrand based on Gillibrand's support for same-sex marriage as well as for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

After speaking to Gillibrand, Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle said he was "very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples."

Gillbrand's crusade against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," put in place in 1993, also puts her at least somewhat at odds with the White House, which has taken a wait and see approach to re-examining the policy.

Gillibrand, whose re-elected efforts have received a boost from President Obama's efforts to help clear the primary field, noted in her press release that 265 service members have been dismissed from the military because of the policy since Obama took office.