Howard Dean (Getty Images/Brendan Smialowski)
Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean endorsed New York Sen.
Kirsten Gillibrand as part of
a videotaped interview that was published on several liberal blogs Wednesday night.
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.
Dean's is one of a series of endorsements Gillibrand's campaign has rolled out to prove her liberal bonafides, after her appointment to the post in January triggered Democratic complaints that she was too moderate. Gillibrand served just over a term in the House, representing an upstate New York district.
Progressives at the national level seemed to think Dean's endorsement would resonate. One blogger on the liberal Web site Daily Kos called it "the most high-profile endorsement of the campaign thus far."
Gillibrand faces an anticipated primary challenge from Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, who has indicated she will run to Gillibrand's left.
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