Now, Israel Heads to Upper Upstate

ALBANY—Representative Steve Israel will be in Watertown on Saturday, less than a week after his trip to Syracuse and Utica and the day before David Paterson visits the North Country city.

Israel has said he is interested in being appointed to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.

Israel will visit Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division, and gather with local political leaders for a "meet and greet," according to Lindsay Hamilton, an Israel spokeswoman. He will leave Saturday night.

A Democratic source said the trip was planned very quickly.

Most coverage of the "race" for the Senate seat has centered on Caroline Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo,  who are considered front-runners.

But members of the state congressional delegation are starting to more campaign more actively. In addition to Israel, Representative Carolyn Maloney took a tour around upstate and has gathered endorsements from several feminist organizations.

Israel's biggest weaknesses as far as obtaining the seat is that he isn't well-known upstate, and that he doesn't add much diversity to the state's representation. Paterson is under some pressure to appoint a woman to replace Clinton.

On the other hand, said that Democratic source, "Israel has no downside for Paterson."