ALBANY—They're stocking up the podium behind Kirsten Gillibrand as she is anointed the next U.S. senator.

Two erstwhile contenders are up there: Tom Suozzi and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. Absent, for now, are Representative Steve Israel and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

It's a packed house, with the Albany, New York, and national media. Reporters have swarmed the room, and are standing in a row picking out who’s who.

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