Ford And Gillibrand Jousting Begins

So what exactly is going on with former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN)? Ford ran unsuccessfully for Senator from Tennessee in 2006, and is now getting ready to challenge appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, in the Democratic primary in Ford's new home state of New York. The attacks between the two camps have already begun.

As Ben Smith reports, Ford has started staffing up for a run, signing up campaign aides that worked for New York's Republican-turned-independent Mayor Mike Bloomberg. "Harold is not going to be bullied or intimidated. It's good for New York to have a dialogue. It's good to have credible candidates exploring this race. So what are they so afraid of?" said a statement from Ford spokesman Davidson Goldin. "Let's be clear: New York needs a senator who will fight for jobs fight to improve our economy, fight for small business and have the independence to stand up and do what's right for our state, regardless of what the party bosses in Albany or Washington want."

Gillibrand's campaign has just responded this evening with its own statement, from Gillibrand adviser Jefrey Pollock: "It's not bullying, it's common sense. When a New Yorker as respected as Congressman Nadler calls someone's record a disaster, and local organizations like NARAL-NY, Empire State Pride Agenda, state labor unions characterize someone's record as wrong for New York, they aren't 'bullying', they're informing New Yorkers about someone who has embraced an anti-choice, anti-LGBT rights, and anti-immigrant record."

Gillibrand certainly appeared vulnerable when she was first appointed last year by Gov. David Paterson -- but this was because some liberals in New York City felt that the Upstater Gillibrand wasn't progressive enough, mainly on gun control. However, prospective challenger after prospective challenger took their hats out of the ring, int he face of official White House support for Gillibrand. For example, Rep. Steve Israel famously received a phone call from President Obama himself, telling him not to run.

So is Ford, a former member of the Blue Dog caucus whose record in politics has been far more conservative than Gillibrand's, the right person to challenge Gillibrand? During his 2006 Senate campaign in Tennessee, he said he was voting "yes" on the referendum to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. He has identified as pro-life and pro-gun (the latter being the issue where Gillibrand was supposed to have the biggest problem with New York City liberals, when she was first appointed).

A Democratic source in Washington signaled to us earlier today that Ford would face a very tough climb, and would face serious opposition from all the leaders of the Democratic Party.

"First of all it doesn't make any sense, because Harold Ford would have to run to the right of Kirsten in a Democratic primary in New York," said the source. "There are a number of problems for Harold Ford if he wanted to do this. Number one, he's got zero name recognition in a city he's inhabited for a few years as a Merrill executive. Two, he's a pro-life Democrat, which he's been unequivocal about. Three, he's against gay marriage. Four, he has a 100 percent rating form the NRA. And five, he would have to buck the senior Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, and the President of the United States, President Barack Obama."