Kirsten Gillibrand gets William Thompson's backing as she blasts Harold Ford over finances

William Thompson, the former city controller who challenged Mayor Bloomberg last fall, backed Gillibrand after watching her at the weekend Albany caucus for minority legislators.

"People were enthusiastic," Thompson said. "Harold is a talented public speaker, but I just don't know that he's established his roots and connections."

Gillibrand is bracing for a possible challenge from Ford, the former Tennessee congressman.

Ford has declined to detail how much he was paid as a Merrill Lynch executive and what he paid in New York income taxes in 2007 and 2008 before becoming a full-time resident. He has said he will make disclosures only if he becomes a candidate.

"There's been a lot of serious questions raised, and I think New Yorkers have a right to know," Gillibrand said after a morning speech to the Association of Towns. "They want to know whether he received a taxpayer-backed bonus and whether taxes were appropriately paid."