It is has been nearly six months since Gov. David Paterson appointed Kirsten Gillibrand as New York’s junior senator and other than in the big media markets, she hasn’t been seen by many of her constituents. With the news two weeks ago that New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney would likely primary Gillibrand next year for the Democratic nomination, it is long past time for the new senator to be seen by voters in suburban and rural New York. They may be key to a primary victory in September 2010.

Several local Democrats have been grousing about Gillibrand’s lack of attention to this area. It goes beyond her waiting until the last minute to announce her opposition to the Bureau of Indian Affairs draft land in trust statement, just days before the comment deadline. Several have commented that she has been abnormally behind in appointing upstate staff that can give her eyes and ears on the ground in the region. On the other hand there have been comments that she is using what staff she has to meet with local officials and interest groups, instead of doing it herself, creating the perception that she is either aloof or out of touch.

They quickly point to the state’s senior Senator, Charles Schumer, who makes it a point, election year or not, to visit all of New York’s 62 counties at least once a year. His visit to Auburn two weeks ago wasn’t necessarily special #— mainly because he comes here often, whether as a guest of the Chamber of Commerce, stopping by City Hall or taking in a Doubledays game. No one would question that he knows where Auburn and Cayuga County is. That is not the case with Senator Gillibrand who, it is felt, might need a map to find Auburn and its environs, as well as several of the neighboring counties in this region.

This may be all the more surprising, since it may be upstate counties, such as Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne that may let her keep her seat in a primary race. Maloney, a city councilwoman prior to going to Congress in 1993, is seen as more liberal than her upstate opponent, which will help her in a Democratic primary, in New York City, but not likely with upstaters. Representing a district in the largest media market in the world seems to have already helped her, even though she hasn’t declared her candidacy — recent polling shows both nearly tied in a head to head primary heat #— a disaster for an incumbent this far in advance of a primary.

So, a bit of advice for Gillibrand #— get in the car, pull out the Rand McNally and start driving around and meet your upstate constituents #— the ones who may not live in just Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse, but who tend to vote, especially in primaries.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com