At Obama’s request, Israel drops Senate bid

At President Obama’s urging, Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said Friday that he will not run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in 2010.

Israel is one of three members of the state’s House delegation who have been weighing a primary challenge to Gillibrand, who was appointed to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate. He was easily the best funded, and media reports have stated in recent days that he would enter the race.

{mosads}But Israel said in a statement that Obama asked him Friday to step aside, and he will do so.

“This is a tough, heartfelt decision for me,” he said. “I have received encouragement to pursue this fight from all corners of our great state. But in the interest of providing New York and our country with a united front for progressive change, I have decided to continue my efforts in Congress and not pursue a campaign for the U.S. Senate.”

Attention will now turn to Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy. McCarthy has said she will challenge Gillibrand if nobody else does.