Clinton’s seat filled
Published:Friday | January 23, 2009 | 5:48 PM
New York Governor David Paterson has appointed Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to take up Hillary Clinton\'s vacant senate seat.
The seat became vacant after Mrs Clinton was named as President Barack Obama\'s Secretary of State.
Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F Kennedy, had been a frontrunner for the seat.
But she withdrew her name from consideration for the seat on Wednesday, citing personal reasons.
Ms Kennedy\'s candidacy had been criticized by some, who expressed concern that she was not experienced enough, and was only being considered because of her family connections.
Ms Gillibrand, a Democrat, represents a conservative congressional district in upstate New York.
She will serve in the senate until 2010, when there will be a special election to fill the seat for the final two years of Mrs Clinton\'s senate term.