In her first year in office, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited every county in the state, taking a page from the playbook of New York’s senior Senator Charles Schumer, a key ally supporting her re-election who is known for his exhaustive in-state travel itinerary.

Schumer leaves no base uncovered, and neither, apparently, has Gillibrand: to date the senator has held over 200 events, including 17 economic roundtables and 17 “Senate in Your Supermarkets” appearances.

The figures, and there are more - 741,000 letters sent, 1,200 constituent cases closed - were circulated in a year-in-review-style press release sent by her office highlighting her first-year accomplishments. It came as Gillibrand prepares for a primary challenge from former Tennessee congressman Harold Ford Jr., also a Democrat, who is considering a run for her seat.

Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand last year, after then-senator Hillary Clinton left the position to become secretary of state. Gillibrand’s path towards securing a first full term seemed all but assured until Ford entered the scene.

In a statement that did not mention her possible primary challenger, Gillibrand laid bare her desire to be re-elected and build on a busy first year in the senate.

“I want to represent those who have the least, but need the most,” Gillibrand said. “Whether it be a family struggling to make ends meet, a veteran looking for work, or a small business unable to access the capital they need to grow, everyday New Yorkers need a senator who is fighting on behalf of them.”

Since taking office Gillibrand has made repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” one of her signature issues. She began work to end the divisive military policy in July of last year, securing a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the matter that was finally held earlier this month, just days after President Barack Obama promised his support to repeal “Don’t Ask” in his State of the Union address.

More recently Gillibrand announced plans to introduce job creation legislation that would reward expanding small businesses with a tax cut for every new hire. She has also supported (to name a few) small business loan and property tax relief measures, a program tackling childhood obesity, and a bill to crackdown on illegal guns.