After she first announced that she is running for president to a national audience on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand hit the ground running Wednesday, making her first campaign stop at a diner in the upstate city of Troy — the site of her campaign headquarters.

Joined by her family, Gillibrand vowed to run a different kind of presidential campaign: one that will focus on issues and not take any corporate PAC money. She's likely to face a crowded field in the Democratic primary.

"I have the compassion, and the courage, and the fearless determination that is necessary to get this done," the senator said at a news conference.

When she ran for re-election last fall, Gillibrand promised to serve out her full six-year term if she won in November. She attempted to explain that broken promise right of the gate.

"I was solely focused on winning our midterms, creating transparency and accountability over this White House, to have some level of oversight, and to continue to serve New Yorkers," Gillibrand said. "I feel I will continue to do that, but this sense of urgency has only grown in me."

Gillibrand was asked what distinguishes her candidacy from fellow Democrats who are looking to take on President Donald Trump and the Republicans.

"I would just tell them to look at my heart," she said.

The senator has been outspoken on women's issues, particularly in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement. She was critical of former President Bill Clinton, whose 1990s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky is a now being looked at with new scrutiny.

She has also taken some criticism from Democratic donors and others who felt she was a little too quick to call on her colleague Al Franken to resign after allegations of groping surfaced in 2017.

"I will stand up for what I believe in, especially when it's hard. And with Sen. Franken, it's sad for many people," Gillibrand said. "But after eight allegations of sexual harassment and groping — credible allegations at the time — I just couldn't stay silent."

Gillibrand is not wasting any time getting her name out there; this weekend, she is slated to travel to Iowa, home of the first presidential caucus in 2020.

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