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Thank you for what I am assuming is a serious, respectful question. As a New Yorker, her election as Senator causes me daily shame. Here are some things I observed in the Senate election.
1. The average person, even if college-educated, isn't all that well-read. There are too many districtions in our modern American life. Most people haven't yet learned that ABCCBSNBCCNN, etc. aren't reliable sources of news. Fortunately the number learning that fact is increasing, however.

2. Therefore, the mass media and the democrat party were able to successfully frame the issues and therefore the opinions. a. Hillary is the smartest woman in America
b. It was all about sex c. Ken Starr is a pervert, not to mention the butt of late-night talk show comedians.

3. The average person is real nice, and would rather scorn the messenger than believe anyone could do such bad things.

4. The average Republican voter is real nice and wouldn't think of acting like a hippie and going out acting like an activist.

5. The average voter respects the Presidency, and therefore the President and First Lady--no matter who they are.

6. Celebrities will draw crowds anywhere.

7. Lazio major blew it when he left his side of the debate stage and charged Hillary's podium with a piece of paper he wanted her to sign. I loved it, but, alas at that moment he lost every potential vote from every soccer Mom or teacher in the state (if they weren't voting for her already).

8. Manhattan is a democrat given. Upstate usually trends Republican. "Upstate" (all of NYS north of Manhattan, and then some) pre 9/11 despised NYC and was keenly aware of the giant sucking sound of taxes flowing south to be given to the tired and poor of NYC. Politicians never travelled west of Albany. Chuck Schumer changed that and Hillary followed. Both have been to my little rural hometown more than all previous politicians combined. Upstaters appreciated the candidate visits and believed Hillary's promises that she'd keep coming and send some money this way. She has done both, so look out in '06.

9. Feminist factor. One of ours has finally made it.

10. There are probably more, but I'll close with this. Check out an election map for 2000 Senate. Lazio won all but about two counties. The polls were too close to call. Suddenly she gets a 10 point shift. Maybe it was the large cities being counted late, or maybe it was just like the Presidential election of the same year, if you catch my drift.