Now, Smith Backs Gillibrand

ALBANY—A few days after Representative Steve Israel announced he will not engage in a primary against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith is endorsing her. Gillibrand already has the support of David Paterson, who appointed her to the seat, and of her senior colleague Chuck Schumer. Smith, in other words, isn't going too far out on a limb by endorsing her now. But the timing is good, coming, as it does, two weeks before the state Democratic committee is set to meet. Before he announced he was staying in the House, Israel was hoping to declare his candidacy at the meeting, before the organization could formally back Gillibrand.