Back when she was mulling a primary challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Carolyn Maloney got a call from VP Joe Biden, which was seen as something of a slight in certain circles, since her colleague and fellow would-be primary contender, Rep. Steve Israel, had merited a call from the Commander-in-Chief himself.

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Maloney insisted Biden hadn’t asked her directly not to run against Gillibrand, but she nevertheless eventually followed Israel’s lead and declined to enter the race, opting to seek re-election instead.

Now that Maloney has graduated from challenger to challengee – she’s facing a primary from first-time candidate Reshma Saujani – she has received a nod from the big man himself (albeit in a statement).

“I’m proud to endorse Carolyn Maloney for re-election and to have her working with me for the change America needs,” the president said.

“New Yorkers are extraordinarily lucky to have her fighting for them in Congress – Carolyn has not only delivered again and again for New Yorkers, she’s written groundbreaking legislation that is making a lasting difference in the lives of millions of Americans.”

As endorsements go, the press release has a lot less impact than an in-person visit. But those sorts of things are generally reserved for candidates who are really in trouble – of losing to a Republican, that is.

Maloney’s seat is safe Democratic. It’s merely a question of which Democrat ends up in it come January 2011. This press release does enable her to tout the president’s support in mailers, TV ads and robocalls (see Thompson, Bill).

If you see someone like, say, White House Chief Rahm Emanuel, making a trip to New York to help a candidate raise money, then you know the administration is worried.

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