Gay politician mulls run against Gillibrand

He's here, he's queer, and he may be running for the Senate.

First it was Mineola Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, who takes great exception at Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's rabid pro-gun stance. Then she was joined by fellow New York congress members Carolyn Mahoney, Steve Israel, and Jerrold Nadler. Now another Dem, openly gay Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper has shown interest in the Senate seat:

[The] move that could make him the first openly gay U.S. senator.

"I consider myself progressive on the important issues," said Cooper, alluding to gun control and gay rights. "And obviously, Sen. Gillibrand has not been a strong supporter in the past on either issue." He added he is "very concerned" that state voters may lack confidence in a candidate who makes "a 180 degree turnabout" on major issues.

Cooper's no stranger to the politics of change and may be linked in with the President's campaign machinery:

Cooper, 54, who was Barack Obama's Long Island campaign chairman in his bid to become president, said he is looking to hire a public relations operative to help analyze the chances of his candidacy. He said a crowded primary field might make the race more viable for him. "In a seven-way race, the winner doesn't need 51 percent, just 15 percent," he said.