1. Gillibrand is much-celebrated among the urbane and liberal country folk along the swankier weekender districts of the Hudson Valley for her defeat of the four-term Republican John Sweeney in a traditionally conservative district.

2. She worked up until the day she gave birth to her second son in May, 2008, earning her a standing ovation on the floor of the House. Only six women have given birth while serving in the U.S. Congress.

3. She is a member of the Congressional Blue Dog Democrats, a coalition of moderate and conservative-leaning Dems able to wrest seats away from Republicans in districts long under conservative control.

4. She was one of the 99 House Democrats to vote against the $700 billion bailout of the banks, also known as the much-maligned TARP, handing a stunning defeat to Nancy Pelosi on the issue. She maintained her no vote on the second bailout bill that ultimately passed, calling it "fundamentally flawed."

5. She opposes gun control. In a district where the deer are so invasive that they practically sleep on your patio at night, if you want to run, you gotta be pro-gun.

6.  She is considered a friend of the family farmer, and a strong voice against the agribusiness-control of the Committee on Agriculture on which she serves.