It’s easy to forget that a politician is only as good as the services provided. Sure talking points, speechifying, acumen about nitty-gritty policy details all are worth something; however, any pol who doesn’t react quickly to the concerns of her constituents is not long for the gig.

Yesterday New York’s junior senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand held a Q&A at NYC’s LGBT Community Center. She was introduced by Lt. Daniel Choi, more about that later, and said a whole lot folks here would like, but it was her staff that earned my attention. A gentleman asked the senator about the recent decision not to have living increases for Social Security in 2010. The questioner also wondered what Gillibrand was going to do to help gay and lesbian seniors. The senator admitted she didn’t know much about the topic, but asked him to help her and call her office. When the event ended, one of her aides found him and gave him cards with phone numbers. In fact, her aides spent all of their time after the event  finding people who asked questions, taking names and numbers. I’m loathe to make predictions, but if Gillibrand and her team keep paying attention to these small details she will be hard to beat in 2012.

Choi introduced her and his words were a rousing defense of the senator and not so subtle critique of the Commander-in-Chief.

“Senator Gillibrand is more than a fierce advocate,” Choi said.

No one in the 200 plus audience seemed to disagree with this comparison, but Gillibrand is no political novice or blustery advocate. In her words, she noted President Obama’s commitment to gay rights and didn’t take Choi’s bait.

The centerpiece of her speech focused on the upcoming Senate hearings on DADT. The senator is convinced the policy needs to end, but thinks the hearing will bring around enough senators (60) so that a repeal will be filibuster proof.

“Convincing the handful of senators who are undecided is our greatest challenge,” she said.