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“Her OLD Senate seat doesn’t come up for election again until November 2012. Too long to wait... “

Although Hillary was reelected in 2006 for a term expiring after the 2012 election, appointed Senators (such as Gillibrand) may only serve until the next general election in the state, and thus Gillibrand needs to run for reelection in November 2010 for the final two years of the Senate term. In theory, Hillary could run in that race (much more doable than taking Schumer on in a primary for a 6-year term).

But if she quits State and runs for something, I think it will be for governor, which (i) would not be as embarrassing as trying to get back the seat she gave up less than a year ago and (ii) gives her a better platform for a 2012 presidential run. Cuomo is doing his best imitation of his father’s Hamlet act and will not announce a gubernatorial run (if he’s waiting for Paterson to drop out so as to avoid alienating the black vote, he’s dreaming), and if Hillary announces for governor I think that Cuomo will run for reelection as AG instead. I think Hillary will beta Paterson handily, but reopening old wounds with the black electorate, and that the general election against Giuliani (who will likely run if Cuomo is not running on the Dem side) will be a bona fide barn-burner.

Yes.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335786/posts

It would look pretty silly if she just tried to get her Senate seat back.

If she wants to hold out hope for a challenge to Obama in the 2012 primaries it would be best for her to dissociate from the administration sooner rather than later.

She can play the savior roll for the NY rats by jumping into the gubernatorial race. Cuomo (wimp) has given her that opening by failing to announce.