Giuliani: No Run For NY Governor, May Challenge Gillibrand In Senate Instead

Insiders report that former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani plans to challenge Kristen Gillibrand for her Senate seat in 2010 rather than run for New York governor, as has been long rumored.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has decided against running for governor, but is strongly considering running for U.S. Senate instead, sources told the Daily News. The Republican heavyweight was considered the GOP's best shot at reclaiming the governor's mansion. The only declared candidate on the Republican side is little-known former Long Island Rep. Rick Lazio. One source said Giuliani is prepared to run for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010 to fill out the remaining two years of Hillary's Clinton's term.

A Giuliani spokesman refuses to confirm the report. If Giuliani does not enter the NY gubernatorial campaign, that makes state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo a virtual shoo-in for the job. Cuomo presently leads Gov. David Paterson by a staggering 59 points in opinion polls.