Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney won't unveil plans for a primary challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today or tomorrow -- nixing the timeframe her campaign had laid out last week, a published report said.
When asked by The New York Post yesterday outside a Diamond District Business Improvement District meeting if her timetable is still in effect, Maloney reportedly answered, "no, it is not."
It isn't at all clear if the delay is any indication that Maloney might not throw her hat into the ring against Gillibrand, who was appointed by Gov. David Paterson to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's empty seat.
Recent campaign finance figures show Maloney has raised just a third of the money that Gillibrand has pulled in. Maloney has also stumbled into controversy recently for repeating a racial slur.
During an interview with a political Web site called City Hall, Maloney repeated what she said was a caller's remark about her likely opponent. The remark included a slur sometimes used against black people. Maloney apologized for incident, saying she was sorry for "repeating a word I find disgusting."
Maloney has also faced political pressure to stand down in her campaign, with some Democrats arguing it will help party unity.
Among Gillibrand's strong supporters is Sen. Chuck Schumer. Even White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has recently expressed support for Gillibrand.
But former President Bill Clinton headlined a fundraiser last week for Maloney. That was seen as a poke at President Obama, who has endorsed Gillibrand, the Associated Press reported.
