Another Irish politician who is under active consideration for Clinton's seat is Buffalo area congressman Brian Higgins. Higgins is very active on Irish issues and is best remembered for attacking the Department of Homeland Security when they refused Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams a visa a few years back. Higgins replaced him as speaker at a Buffalo event. Higgins, son of a bricklayer whose parents came form Mayo, has working class roots like his predecessor Congressman Jack Quinn, who was a Republican. The argument for Higgins is that he will give upstate New York a voice in Washington where it is sorely needed. The rap against him is that he could have great difficulty raising money in 2010 and could be easily out-raised by someone from the New York area in a primary. Higgins and Saratoga/Albany area Congresswoman Kristen Gillibrand are the two upstate favorites if Paterson decides to go that way. Paterson in many ways faces a near impossible task to placate all those who are seeking the seat. No matter who he picks he is bound to find himself open to criticism.