ALBANY -- The head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee approached former Gov. George Pataki this week about running for the U.S. Senate in 2010, according to a person who spoke to Pataki about the private meeting.

The person confirmed Tuesday's meeting in New York City between Pataki and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who heads the party's national senate campaign committee. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he isn't authorized to comment.

Pataki, now in private law practice, hasn't yet accepted or rejected the idea, the person said. The race would be against Kirsten Gillibrand, who was recently appointed to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton when she became Barack Obama's secretary of state.

Pataki didn't immediately respond to a request for comment at his law office.

Cornyn's office referred questions to the committee, which would not specifically address the New York senate seat.

"As NRSC chairman, of course he is speaking with top Republicans in states with potentially competitive seats," said Brian Walsh, communications director for the committee and a former top Senate aide to Cornyn. "Frankly, it would be a surprise if he was not doing that because that's a key part of the job and one he takes seriously."

Gillibrand was appointed Jan. 23 by Democratic Gov. David Paterson after a selection process that was sharply criticized for its secrecy and mixed signals. The process included a public view that Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy, was Paterson's first choice until she abruptly withdrew. Paterson later said he had long favored Gillibrand.

After Kennedy withdrew, a person close to Paterson leaked to the media information that was critical of the daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy, including that she had tax and nanny problems and her marriage was in trouble. There was no evidence to support the allegations.

Gillibrand, who was a relatively unknown second-term congresswoman from upstate Columbia County, will face a 2010 special election for the remainder of Clinton's term then a general election in 2012 for a full, six-year term. She has said she intends to run both years, a commitment that Paterson sought.

Rep. Peter King, a Long Island Republican, has already said he's interested in facing Gillibrand in 2010. Cornyn also met with King in early January, according to press reports.

The 63-year-old Pataki is a Republican who won three terms in the blue state, beating Democratic icon Mario Cuomo in 1994, still considered one of the nation's biggest GOP upsets. Pataki served as a moderate Republican, strong on environmental policy and who was credited early in his tenure for turning around state finances and the economy.

He grew up in the lower Hudson Valley, lived in Manhattan as a young lawyer, and bought a home in the Adirondacks.

He never lost a race for elected office and was skilled at beating incumbents.

"You're talking about a Republican who has won statewide in New York three times and in the last 30 years, only (Sen.) Al D'Amato and George Pataki can say that," said Steven Greenberg of the Siena College poll. "Given that there are so many statewide offices up next year, and not a lot of Republicans who have the stature, the fundraising ability and the prominence statewide, certainly George Pataki would be a formidable candidate."