The emergence of real-estate magnate — and Daily News Publisher — Mortimer Zuckerman as a potential candidate for the United States Senate is an event all New Yorkers of good will can welcome.
This isn’t an endorsement of Zuckerman’s candidacy. Indeed, it’s not at all clear that he’ll even make the run.
But here’s hoping he does.
The Senate seat in question is now held by David Paterson protégé — and Chuck Schumer hand puppet — Kirsten Gillibrand. She’s an upstate cipher whose sole qualification for the job is that Paterson appointed her to it when Hillary Rodham Clinton gave it up to join the Obama administration.
Zuckerman, on the other hand, is a heavyweight — an internationalist with a firm grasp on the challenges facing the nation in that realm, a fierce supporter of Israel at a time of grave peril for that embattled nation and an experienced businessman with a clear appreciation of how much damage anti-growth fiscal policies can do to America.
New York has a proud tradition of sending superior people to the Senate.
This isn’t to suggest that Zuckerman is in the same league with, say, Daniel Patrick Moynihan — who held the seat before Mrs. Clinton. (Then again, who would be?)
But it is to state without qualification that Zuckerman’s entry into the race would — on Day One — markedly improve the quality of the candidate pool.
It’s disgraceful that Schumer and the Obama White House have conspired successfully to keep well-qualified New Yorkers from challenging Gillibrand.
Zuckerman could change that.
Run, Mort, run!