ALBANY, N.Y. Instantly opening a rift among New York Democrats, Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand a little-known, pro-gun Democrat from a rural Republican district won appointment Friday to the Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gov. David Paterson announced his choice a day after presumed front-runner Caroline Kennedy a woman with considerably more star power but less experience mysteriously dropped out of contention in an embarrassing turn of events that touched off sniping between the governor and the Kennedy camp.
Gillibrand, at 42, will be the youngest member of the Senate and one of 17 women in the chamber. The second-term congresswoman will assume the seat once held by Kennedy's uncle Robert F. Kennedy as well as by Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
