Kirsten Gillibrand officially gets sworn in today as the junior senator from New York — Gillibrand is already raising money for her 2010 bid.

“The former congresswoman has to defend her new seat in 2010. So she’s already out with a fundraising e-mail to supporters, noting the tremendous costs involved in running a statewide campaign in New York. “[S]uch outreach will cost a substantial amount of money,” she writes. “I hope you remain, as I do, undeterred by this challenge. I hope you will join me in building a well-funded campaign.”

If she wins next year’s contest to serve out the remaining two years of HIllary Clinton‘s Senate term, Gillibrand will be up for election again in 2012.”

And who knows after that? Gillibrand is a rising star. And someone will have to take on Governor Sarah Palin.