Gov. David Paterson?s Senate appointee Kirsten Gillibrand will only have Hillary Clinton?s seat for two years before she has to run again. That has political analysts and junkies gearing up for 2010.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) says she?s considering a run against Gillibrand in the Democratic primary. McCarthy parts with Gillibrand on the issue of gun control and is critical of Paterson?s selection of her. Fellow veteran Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is also said to be a potential challenger to Gillibrand.

Congressman Peter King (R-Seaford) has already told News 12 Long Island that he'll run for the senate in 2010. Political analyst Jerry Kremer says King would be the strongest Republican candidate.

"He?s been around, he knows how to raise money, he has a big conservative base, he can draw on money from outside New York State,? Kremer says.

As for the futures of other would-be senators, there's speculation Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi could be tapped by Paterson as lieutenant governor for his 2010 re-election. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo will continue on in that position. Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) will continue to move up the ranks in the party.