New York, NY —

After weeks of vacillating in the media, Governor Paterson has appointed upstate and Hudson Valley Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the US Senate Seat vacated by now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

REPORTER: Appearing with Gillibrand Friday, the governor apologized to New Yorkers, admitting that he might have been too transparent about the process.

PATERSON: I wrestled with this decision. In retrospect, I wish I had not showed all of you the wrestling match.

REPORTER: At least 15 candidates were said to be under consideration, including Caroline Kennedy. The former President's daughter abruptly withdrew her bid for the seat this week.