Manhattan Rep. Carolyn Maloney has reportedly decided against running against Kirsten Gillibrand for U.S. Senate.

Maloney is a nine-term congresswoman who represents the Upper East Side.

It is hard to understand why she waited so long to make her announcement.

She is not that well known outside of New York City and Gillibrand was picked as a new face in the Democratic party.

Here’s more from AP.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York congresswoman Carolyn Maloney will not challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state’s Democratic primary.
Maloney says in a statement to be released Friday that she plans to stay in the House of Representatives. She says her decision was based on a desire to deal with current challenges including health care reform, clean energy issues and the economy.
Gillibrand was appointed in January to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s appointment as secretary of state. President Barack Obama and other top national Democrats have come out in support of Gillibrand to clear the field for her 2010 campaign.

PHOTO: Dr. Elizabeth Warren, chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel, left, speaks to Joint Economic Committee Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 9, 2009, after testifying before the committee. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)