Since Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) announced Friday that she would not challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in the Democratic primary next year, supporters have again begun to line up behind the appointed senator. Democratic Reps. Eliot Engel and Anthony Weiner, both from New York City, announced their support for Gillibrand this week, as did the United Steelworkers District 4.

It had been two months since a Democrat from the state delegation had endorsed Gillibrand. She now has the public backing of 13 New York Democrats in the House -- half the total number.

"I am proud to support Kirsten Gillibrand for the United States Senate," Weiner said today in a released statement. "In just over six months on the job, Kirsten has proven herself to be a leader that can bridge upstate and downstate and serve as a strong voice for the middle class and those struggling to make it."

Engel gave a similar statement Tuesday, saying, "Over the past seven months, Kirsten has brought a new, innovative approach to the new problems that New York families are facing in these tough economic times."

The White House had been pressuring intraparty challengers to exit the race and succeeded with the exits of Reps. Steve Israel and Carolyn McCarthy more than two months ago. But Maloney kept her options open until Friday, when she announced she would instead run for re-election to her district in Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (N.J.) publicly thanked Maloney on Friday.

"Congresswoman Maloney is a terrific member of Congress, and her constituents ought to be proud that she will continue to be their voice in Washington," he said. "She came to the right decision on this and it means New Yorkers will continue to have a powerhouse delegation in Congress. In just a short time, Senator Gillibrand has already proven she fits the mold of strong New York leaders, working day and night to represent New Yorkers in Washington."

With all her major Democratic challengers now out, Gillibrand appears to have a clear shot at the 2010 special election, and more than likely the regularly scheduled 2012 election.